Hasmonean High School

Hasmonean High School
Motto אל תקרי בניך אלא בוניך - ("Don't call them your children, rather your builders")
Established 1944
Type Academy
Religion Jewish
Headteacher Mr Andrew McClusky (Exec.), Mrs Debbie Lebrett (Boys), Mrs Rachel Fink (Girls)
Location Holders Hill Road
Hendon
London
England, UK
51°35′47″N 0°12′51″W / 51.5963°N 0.2143°W / 51.5963; -0.2143Coordinates: 51°35′47″N 0°12′51″W / 51.5963°N 0.2143°W / 51.5963; -0.2143
DfE number 302/5409
DfE URN 137539 Tables
Ofsted Reports
Students 1016
Gender Boys and girls on separate sites
Ages 11–18
Website HHS

Hasmonean High School is a secondary school and sixth form with academy status for pupils from Orthodox Jewish families, situated in the London Borough of Barnet, England.

History

The school was founded by the late Rabbi Dr. Solomon Schonfeld [1] in 1944 as Hasmonean Grammar School. Rabbi Dr. Schonfeld (1912-1984) rescued thousands of Jews from the Holocaust and pioneered Jewish day school education in England. Dr. Schonfeld saw the need for an Orthodox Jewish school in North West London, which, despite having high numbers of Orthodox Jews, did not have a religious school to cater for them. Many Jews had reached Great Britain from different parts of Nazi-occupied Europe, most of them settling in London. Since Orthodox Judaism places great emphasis on the upbringing of children, the need subsequently arose for a school where the children could be educated in an Orthodox Jewish environment. Jewish law discourages mingling of the sexes when possible, especially when they are unmarried, so two separate schools needed to be set up, one for boys and one for girls.

The boys’ school became a voluntary aided Local Authority School in 1957. In September 1975, the girls moved to the present purpose-built Page Street site in Mill Hill. In 1984, voluntary aided status was extended to the girls' school, and the two sections joined as one to become a five-form-entry School. In April 1994, the school became grant maintained, but returned to Voluntary Aided Status in September 1999, following the abolition of grant-maintained schools. In March 2008 Hasmonean was singled out as one of the faith schools in the news for its procedure of demanding contributions from parents as a condition of entry. The school converted to academy status in October 2011.

The school has established a Beis Hamedrash programme for Fifth and Sixth Form boys (Years 11-13) and a Midrasha programme for sixth form girls.

Executive Headteachers

Location

Originally, the school was situated in The Drive in Golders Green until 1947. In that year, the boys' school moved to Holders Hill Road, where it has remained until the present day. Until 1975, the girls' school was accommodated in a two large houses in Parson Street, Hendon, when it was relocated to Page Street.

Transport

As of September 2011, the bus route 240 serves the boys site of the school, with access to Golders Green, Edgware and Mill Hill Broadway Stations for all students. At Mill Hill Broadway there is access to the 221 Bus, 113 Bus, 251 Bus. The closest underground station is Mill Hill East.

Objectives

The school has five primary objectives:

[1] To provide a sound all-round education, so that pupils will be inspired to raise their level of Jewish knowledge and commitment as well as achieving the qualifications necessary for the career of their choice.

[2] To promote the practical application of Jewish values and traditions.

[3] To care for all pupils and to encourage them to realize their potential and to achieve success.

[4] To encourage and support the personality, development and moral values of the pupils, so that they may develop a positive self-image and the ability to cope with change within themselves and within society.

[5] To promote, including by means of extracurricular activities, the character training necessary to enable the pupils to become committed and caring members of the School community and of the wider community.

Governing body

Soon after its opening, the school became part of the blossoming Jewish Secondary Schools Movement (JSSM). Under the terms of the JSSM scheme, the trustees of the school must be appointed by the rabbis of certain synagogues, namely, the Adath Yisroel, the Golders Green Beth Hamedrash Congregation and the Hendon Adath Yisroel. The trustees in turn appoint the Foundation Governors, who together with the Headteacher, two LEA appointed Governors, three parent-elected Governors, two teacher-elected Governors and the Staff Governor form the Governing Body.[2]

Academic results

Hasmonean has been commended by SSAT for being in the top 10% of non-selective schools according to the number of students gaining 5 or more A8 – A grades. Due to an inspection in 2012, Hasmonean is rated 'Outstanding' in all categories by Ofsted.

The school has also been commended for the progress students make between Key Stage 2 and 4, with some subjects being in the top 1% and all being in the top 4% of all schools.

The school has produced students with outstanding GCSE results, similar to a grammar school. At A-level, it is also outstanding, in the top three of non-grammar schools in Barnet Local Authority.

Future

Hasmonean Future Building Proposals

In recent months, Hasmonean has proposed moving both the boys’ and girls’ campuses onto one secured site. [3] [4] [5]

Each campus would sit on its own site and have separate entrances, facilities and play areas. The land identified at this stage is the land next to, and including, the current girls’ campus on Page Street. Each campus would also have its own security team.

Hasmonean High school currently has two campuses, a boys’ campus and girls’ campus, which are over a mile apart. The two campuses share leadership teams and teaching staff, but in accordance with Hasmonean’s ethos, the educational accommodation, external spaces and play areas are separate.

Notable former pupils

Hasmonean Grammar School

References

  1. ↑ , Dr. Schonfeld's Work in Hasmonean
  2. ↑ , Current Governing Body.
  3. ↑ , JC News Article.
  4. ↑ , Future Website.
  5. ↑ , Future Proposals
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