(Con):...The Jewish community itself is blessed with a
number of successful free schools, benefiting pupils in London,
Leeds and Hertfordshire. One extremely positive initiative has
been where free schools have joined together and created a
network to give each other mutual support, and expanded into
developmental school improvement and continued professional
development for staff. Would the Minister take a look at
this initiative and see whether this kind of co-operation can be
replicated elsewhere?
One of the schools involved in this initiative is Etz
Chaim Jewish Primary School in Barnet. The head
teacher Yvonne Baron reflected how the pupils were involved from
the foundation of the school. She said:
“They were literally the centre of every decision we made”.
So many things were the pupils’ ideas, from the colour of the
lunch trays to the height of the furniture, from the annual
talent show to the charity months. As a school, Etz Chaim has
flourished. One teacher remarked about the excitement she felt
setting up the year 4 and 5 classrooms from scratch, something
she said most teachers will never experience.
The most recent recipient of free school status in
the Jewish community has been Kisharon, a
wonderful special school, often described as a jewel in the crown
of the community. I thank my noble friend the Minister for his
support and encouragement. Kisharon is now building a
state-of-the-art campus, increasing its capacity from 40 students
to 70. The new arrangement between the department and Kisharon
has driven up educational standards and improved the facilities
for learning disabilities. Becoming a free school has facilitated
the opportunity to create specific expert learning zones for
children with autism and other multiple learning difficulties and
disabilities...
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