The Jewish high school opening in Leeds next September has received 20 applications for the 25 places for the initial year.

Leeds Jewish Free School, which won government approval in July, is expecting imminent confirmation of a £3 million building budget from the Department for Education. There are plans for state-of-the-art science labs and other specialist rooms as part of a conversion of the existing Brodetsky primary school campus in Alwoodley.

Brodetsky pupils set to move on to the high school will be working with the architect on design features.
Project leader Dan Cohen said the positive response by parents answered critics who said the school would struggle to attract sufficient pupils.

“We expected to have 12-14 applications in our first year, so to be where we are is really quite spectacular.
“Come September 2013, we will have a school providing the finest standards of education.”