JFS top-performing Jewish school for A-levels

JFS was the highest-achieving Jewish school for A-levels last summer, according to new figures released by the Department for Education.

The state-aided comprehensive was the only school to reach the A-grade bracket with an average A per exam taken by students.

Last year, marking reverted to the pre-pandemic level of 2019, after some allowance had been made in the previous year for the disruption to education caused by the pandemic. As a result, grades were generally higher in 2022 when no fewer than seven Jewish schools were listed in the A bracket.

JFS was almost three points clear (representing 30 per cent of a grade) of its nearest Jewish competitor, Yavneh College in 2023.

All but three Jewish schools were above the national average of B- in England.

In the vocational track, King David High School Liverpool topped the chart for Jewish schools, measured by points per exam for applied general qualifications.

A couple of schools have begun to introduce T-levels, which are coming on stream over the next few years as the government’s intended standard vocational option.

A-level and vocational results for 2023

Among the few Charedi schools which offer A-level, there is a notable gap between girls schools such as Menorah High and Beth Jacob and the boys’ schools such as Menorah Grammar and Mesivta.

Jonathan Perl, Menorah Grammar chairman, explained: “In past years we have allowed any student to move forward to A-level, irrespective of what they have managed to achieve at GCSE.

“This is unusual amongst schools which would normally restrict access to A-levels to those more likely to succeed at them, thus allowing a higher average to be attained across the cohort.

“Reasons for having taken this approach are complex but include allowing all students access to the Jewish studies curriculum our sixth form offers, in line with, and in response to, demand from the Orthodox community.”

He added that the school has been “working on tightening standards across both the delivery and application of our A-level provision which should also, in time, ensure improved grades across the cohort.”

The DfE has also updated GCSE figures for 2023 which were originally issued last autumn - with minor adjustments.