Building work on the £3.5 million Leeds Jewish Free School premises has begun after government funding and planning permission were signed off.

The high school will open in September with 20 pupils. Jewish education will come from within the community, while core curriculum subjects like maths, science and arts are to be provided by the Rodillian Academy in Wakefield, whose academic results are among the nation’s top 10 per cent.

The school has committed to giving every pupil a tablet computer for lessons and homework, with an integrated IT system allowing students to upload work to teachers. LJFS chairman Dan Cohen said the tie-up with Rodillian brought “a track record of excellence in teaching” to the project.