Claims made by parents that Yavneh College’s proposal to remove feeder schools benefited only families living in Borehamwood and Elstree were based on a serious misreading of data, the school has explained.

Last week, the JC reported that a group representing more than 400 parents had obtained Freedom of Information documents from the Borehamwood school that, they claimed, showed that, without feeder schools, places at the Yavneh would increase for families in Borehamwood and Elstree, but fall elsewhere.

Based on the group’s misunderstanding of the data, it was reported that, without feeders, places for families in Borehamwood could have risen by 117 per cent this year, but could have fallen by 91 per cent in Bushey.

However, this analysis was based on an incorrect reading of school documents.

The statistics, simulated by the school to predict the changes made by removing Hertsmere Jewish Primary and Clore Shalom as feeder schools, actually showed that there would have been no difference made to the amount of places available to families in Bushey. In addition, places would have risen for prospective pupils living in Radlett and Shenley.

The table shows that, in fact, the number of places would have either stayed the same or increased for all Hertfordshire communities.

Yavneh College is still evaluating responses to its admissions consultation, which closed earlier this month. Results will be revealed at the end of February.