JFS (school) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids JFS |
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| Address | |
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The Mall
, , HA3 9TE
England
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| Coordinates | 51°34′52″N 0°16′53″W / 51.58118°N 0.28135°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Voluntary aided comprehensive |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Modern Orthodox Judaism |
| Established | 1732 |
| Local authority | Brent |
| Department for Education URN | 133724 Tables |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| President | Lord Michael Levy |
| Chair | Andrew Moss |
| Head teacher | David Moody |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Age | 11 to 18 |
| Enrolment | 1800 |
| Houses | Angel , Brodetsky , Weizmann & Zangwill |
| Colour(s) | Blue, Yellow/Gold |
| Website | https://www.jfs.brent.sch.uk/ |
JFS, which stands for Jewish Free School, is a big school in North London, England. It's a comprehensive school, meaning it teaches students of all abilities. JFS is a Jewish school and welcomes both boys and girls. It started a very long time ago in 1732! A famous writer named Charlotte Montefiore helped support the school in its early days. Believe it or not, JFS was once the biggest Jewish school in the world, with over 4,000 students!
Contents
Where is JFS Located?
JFS is in Kenton, a part of North London. The school moved to this new spot in 2002. This move happened because many Jewish families in London were moving to the suburbs. The school is officially in the London Borough of Brent. Its postal town is Harrow.
Who Leads JFS?
The school has had many important leaders over the years. These leaders are called Headteachers. They help make sure the school runs well and students get a great education.
Headteachers Through the Years
Here are some of the people who have led JFS:
| Years | Headteacher |
|---|---|
| 2021–Present | Dr David Moody |
| 2018–2021 | Rachel Fink |
| 2008–2016 | Jonathan Miller |
| 1993–2007 | Dame Ruth Robins |
| 1842–1897 | Moses Angel |
| 1732–1757 | Samuel Grant |
Other Important Staff
Some other notable people have worked at JFS:
- The poet Daljit Nagra used to teach English at the school. He also helped out in the Learning Resource Centre.
- Michael Adler taught Hebrew at the school in the late 1800s.
School Houses and Fun Traditions
JFS uses a "house system" to help organize students. There are four houses, and each student belongs to one. This system helps create teams for competitions and activities. Students wear a tie with stripes that show their house color.
The Four Houses of JFS
Each house is named after an important person:
| House Name | Named After | House Color |
|---|---|---|
| Angel | Moses Angel | Red |
| Brodetsky | Selig Brodetsky | Blue |
| Weizmann | Chaim Weizmann | Green |
| Zangwill | Israel Zangwill | Yellow |
Two of these names, Brodetsky and Zangwill, were actually former students at JFS! Moses Angel was a headmaster for a very long time. Weizmann, who had many connections to the school, became the first President of the State of Israel.
Students in Years 7, 8, and 9 often have classes with others from their house. They also compete against other houses in sports like football and basketball.
"Muck-up Day"
A fun tradition at JFS is called "muck-up day". This is when Year 11 students celebrate their last day of formal classes. It happens right before they take their big GCSE exams. Students often play harmless pranks to mark the occasion.
Great Academic Results
JFS students have always done very well in their exams. For example, in 2007, over half of all GCSE exams taken at the school received top grades (A* or A). In 2012, JFS was the best school in Brent for GCSE results. Their A-Level results were also the best among all mainstream Jewish schools.
Awards and Recognition
The school has also won awards for its caring environment. In 2021, JFS received a "Wellbeing at School Award". This shows they do a great job of looking after their students' happiness and mental health.
Famous Former Students
Many successful people have attended JFS over the years. Here are just a few of them:
- Barney Barnato, a famous businessman
- Gina Bellman, an actress
- Selig Brodetsky, a mathematician and leader
- Benjamin Cohen, a journalist and TV presenter
- Dean Furman, a professional footballer
- Jonathan Glazer, an award-winning film director
- Samuel Gompers, a leader in American labor
- Ray Kelvin, who started the clothing company Ted Baker
- David Joseph, a top music executive
- Bernard Lewis, who founded River Island stores
- Joe Loss, a well-known musician
- Florence Schechter, an author
- Ian Stone, a comedian
