Hasmonean High School for Boys has welcomed its first students at an overflow site opened to meet a growing demand for places.

The Hendon-based secondary school has leased the premises of what was a Catholic primary in Belsize Park in order to house 136 year-7 boys.

For many years the school has accepted far more than its official maximum of 75 but this year’s intake represents its highest number.

Its principal, Rabbi Jeremy Golker (inset), affixed the mezuzah on the door of the new Hasmonean Middle School last week.

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Principal Jeremy Golker opening the new overflow space (Photo: handout)

Benji Shebson, the Hasmonean Multi-Academy Trust’s marketing and development director, said, “The work that has gone on over the summer has been relentless to turn a primary school into a secondary school site.”

It included general and fire safety risk assessments, extra security measures as well as “playground equipment removed and uneven playground space flattened; existing tables and chairs replaced by those of the correct size; science labs, art and music departments established; offices made fit for purpose; PA equipment installed; toilets made suitable for secondary school children; IT infrastructure and phone connections.”

The school had hoped to relocate from its cramped Hendon base to a new home next to its sister girls’ school in Mill Hill but the plan had to be shelved over objections to the use of green-belt land.