Family & Education
JFS, Hasmonean, and Yavneh ranked among nation's best schools
It marks a sharp turnaround for JFS after disappointing Ofsted report last year
December 9, 2022 15:25
It marks a sharp turnaround for JFS after disappointing Ofsted report last year
December 9, 2022 15:25Three Jewish schools are among the best in the UK, according to a newly released Times ranking of the best educational establishments in the country.
JFS, Hasmonean High School for Girls, and Yavneh College all made the top ten list of British comprehensives.
Number one among the nation’s state-aided Jewish schools was JFS.
Headteacher Dr David Moody told the JC: “I could not be more proud of everything that the pupils at JFS have achieved.
“To be ranked as the sixth best comprehensive school in England, as well as the top Jewish school, is an incredible achievement.
“As someone who is new to the community, I am blown away by its commitment to education and I would like to give my heartfelt congratulations to all of the fantastic staff, students and parents to whom this success belongs. It is a pleasure to work alongside them.”
The rating marks a sharp turnaround from 2021, when JFS was deemed “inadequate” by Ofsted.
In May of this year the school jumped two places to “good” and moved out of special measures.
Hasmonean High School for Girls, which came seventh among comprehensives in the UK, also hailed the news.
Headteacher Mrs Brice and principal Rabbi Jeremy Golker said: "We are thrilled to be yet again in the top 10 of comprehensive schools.
“This is testament to the hard work of our students and the dedication and inspiration of their teachers.
“We are proud not only of our examination results but of the way in which staff instill Jewish values within students and the way in which they prepare them to become role models both in school and in the wider world.”
Immanuel College came 143rd in the table for independent schools: in the state school list, the Jewish Community Secondary School was ranked 158th , The King David High School, Manchester 234th and The King David High School, Liverpools 314th.
Nationally, the results were a victory for girls education, with single-sex schools topping both private and state sector league tables.
St Paul’s Girls is the best fee-paying school in the country, while the Henrietta Barnett grammar school comes first among state schools.
Alan Smithers, professor of education at the University of Buckingham, told The Times: “Our top girls’ schools look to have coped better in the pandemic.
“Their improved performance relative to other schools in the Sunday Times league tables suggests that they were able to provide a higher level of education during the Covid years.
“This could be because they adapted to online learning quicker in lockdown and got down to studying more diligently than pupils in some of the boys’ or coeducational schools.”