By Robyn Rosen
An Orthodox independent primary for girls unable to find Jewish school places elsewhere is to open in September at Kingsbury Synagogue.
The B'nos Primary School will start with two forms, nursery and reception, and already has 20 girls signed up.
Governors' chair Richard Harounoff said the school was needed as the Menorah Primary in Golders Green, Beis Yaakov in Colindale and Noam Primary in Wembley were oversubscribed. "This school has been created, not as competition, but simply because there are not enough places. It has good premises and well-regarded rabbis involved."
Educational philanthropist Benjamin Perl is the honorary president and has contributed to the £200,000 needed for the first year running costs.
After parents met last October to discuss plans for a new school, a committee began searching for premises in north-west London.
Mr Haraunoff said the school would blend traditional values and secular education.
Dayan Yonason Abraham and Dayan Shmuel Simons from the London Beth Din sit on the advisory board.
Kingsbury had offered "the best site in terms of facilities, size and location. We're delighted to be using a United Synagogue facility rather than a random building."
Twenty families attended an open day last week.