JFS has started a public debate about whether or not it should apply for academy status.

Chair of governors Michael Glass called for anyone who wanted to give their views on the subject to contact him via the school in Kenton, north west London.

Mr Glass said after a governors’ meeting on Monday evening: “JFS has an obligation to consider whether such a change of status would help it to serve better our students and the community.”

Head Jonathan Miller said: “Academy status could offer us greater freedom to develop the educational provision for our students to their benefit. If so - and this still needs to be explored fully - we would be negligent were we not to give the possibility serious consideration.”

If JFS does decide to apply, its application would be fast-tracked ahead of other schools because the government schools inspection agency Ofsted found it to be outstanding in every area at its last inspection.

The governors decided to set up a working party to look into all aspects of academy status and report back later this term.