Hasmonean High School for Girls

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Campus building on Holders Hill Road, Hendon, from the Hasmonean Multi-Academy Trust website.[1]

Hasmonean High School for Girls, is based in Barnet and is a mainstream Jewish school for Girls 11-18

Also based at the same post code isHelena's Nursery

The school is run and the buildings and land owned by the following:Hasmonean High School Charitable Trust (Charity number: 1068303)/ Hasmonean Multi-Academy Trust (Company number 07706488) / The Jewish Secondary Schools Movement (Charity Number - 313109) / The Trustees of the J.S.S.M. (Company number 02899353)

History

In November 1947 Hampstead News reported that the Hasmonean Grammar School for Girls was starting its first term at the premises of the former mixed Grammar School in The Drive, Golders Green. Mid-day meals were being served and a boarding department was attached; special attention was to be given to science and handicrafts.[2]

Hampstead News, reporting the fourth annual prize-giving in February 1949, said the first Hasmonean Grammar School had opened four years earlier (1944–45) in two houses at The Drive, Golders Green, with 19 boys and girls, all local. The same report gave the number of pupils by then as 915, and mentioned the Golders Green school, two schools in Hendon, and a boarding house in East Heath Road, Hampstead, with 60 children "from all over the world".[3] That 915 figure conflicts with a report in Jewish Echo of 6 May 1949, which gave the enrolment of the whole Jewish Secondary Schools Movement as "between 700 and 800" pupils.[4] A March 1948 prize-giving report had put the number of pupils at over 200.[5]

In March 1948 a prize-giving of the Hasmonean Grammar School was held at Friends House, Euston Road. Commander F. Ashe Lincoln KC took the chair and Mrs Ashe Lincoln gave the prizes. Also present were the Mayor of Hendon, Councillor J. H. Rodway JP, Rabbi Dr S. Schonfeld, the Principal, and W. W. Stanton, the headmaster. A tribute was paid to the late Rabbi Dr Victor Schonfeld, father of the Principal. The report recorded over 200 pupils, new premises, and an application for Ministry of Education recognition for the Boys' School.[5]

At the February 1949 prize-giving, held in the Adolph Tuck Hall, Upper Woburn Place, Professor S. Brodetsky, president of the Board of Deputies, spoke, and Mrs Brodetsky presented prizes to nearly 50 pupils. W. W. Stanton was named as headmaster of the boys' school and Mrs S. Herman as headmistress of the girls' school. A letter from Sir Hugh Lucas-Tooth MP was read, and pupils performed John Galsworthy's The Little Man.[3]

In May 1949 the Jewish Secondary Schools Movement held a dinner to mark its twentieth anniversary, implying a foundation in 1929. Those present included Emanuel Shinwell, then Secretary of State for War, Chief Rabbi Israel Brodie, David Weitzman MP, Commander F. Ashe Lincoln KC, Sir Michael Balcon, Councillor Victor Mishcon and the Rev Isaac Levy. The report referred to "the late Avigdor Schonfeld, founder". More than £6,000 was raised, and the Ministry of Education was said to have promised support in due course.[4]

In July 1950 Daily Herald reported a petition to Hendon Council concerning 20 boy and girl boarders at the Hasmonean Grammar School, housed in "two 16-roomed buildings in The Drive ... run under a Jewish trust". The Town Clerk was to inquire when the boarders would move.[6]

People

Relation to Zionism

Rabbi Schiff came in to speak about his own reflections on Yom Ha’Atzmaut, and clearly showed his excitement at being in Hasmonean at a time when we do celebrate Yom Ha’Atzmaut! He recalled his own swearing in ceremony at the Kotel, where another Hasmo Alumnus (now Lord Kestenbaum), said to him: ‘Why did Hashem say to Moshe go up the mountain and lift up your eyes?’ The answer: it is not easy to live in Israel, but this is where we are supposed to be. ‘Lift up your eyes’ and be thankful for all that Hashem has done. Tov le’Hodot L’Hashem. This is the essence of being a Jew- to always recognise the good. And with that, each student wrote a note describing what she felt grateful to Israel for, tied it to a blue or white balloon and the whole school released those balloons into the sunshine. Later on in the morning, there was a return to the hall for celebrating, dancing, eating watermelon, drinking ice coffee, face painting, and balloon art! Tov L’Hodot- it was truly wonderful to be able to celebrate the 74th birthday of our homeland in true Hasmonean style.'[7]

  • The trust's report on Yom Ha'atzmaut 2019 ("71 years young!") at the girls' school says Rabbi Silverman spoke about "living the reality of a life in Israel", the hall was decorated "with blue and white flags", and "Other activities included writing letters to lone soldiers to express our appreciation for their commitment to the land of Israel".[8] At the Yom Hazikaron assembly Rabbi Silverman told the girls: "With the foundation of the State of Israel, the Jewish people finally have an army to fight for and to fight for us."[9]
  • The school's ethos page says: "We nurture a lifelong commitment to Orthodox Judaism and its tenets, a love of Israel, and a respect for those with different beliefs, identities and values."[10]
  • An editorial on the trust's website dated 9 May 2019 said that the week "started with real concern about the safety of the residents of Israel, spanned the very moving Yom Hazikaron ceremony at the two schools presented by Rabbi Shaw and Rabbi Kenigsburg and ended with the excitement of celebrating Yom Haatzmaut".[11]
  • A Yom Hazikaron report on the trust's website says that, "as part of Mizrachi's week of Inspiration, Rabbi Andrew Shaw and Rabbi Kenigsberg addressed Years 9 to 12 at both schools, reminding them that, as rockets rain down on Southern Israel", the soldiers and civilians killed must still be remembered.[9]
  • In 2019 Rami Sherman, described as "one of the officers who masterminded the miraculous raid on Entebbe in Uganda in 1976", spoke to "the Year 10 girls and the Year 7 and 10 boys".[12]
Hasmonean High School on X, 5 May 2022: Hasmonean Girls "returned to Yom Ha'Atzmaut celebrations in style with a strong blue and white theme".[13]
  • The MAT’s shared X account @HasmoneanSchool posted on 5 May 2022 that Hasmonean Girls “returned to Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebrations in style with a strong blue and white theme,” singing Hallel and holding a carnival after a talk by Rabbi N Schiff.[13]
  • On 9 May 2019 the same account described Yom HaAtzmaut “with song, dance and appreciation for lone soldiers.”[14]

funding

Gerald and Gail Ronson Family Foundation | Wolfson Family Charitable Trust | Loftus Charitable Trust | Maurice Wohl Charitable Foundation

Register data

The Department for Education records Hasmonean High School for Girls (URN 147238) as an academy converter for girls aged 11 to 18 with a Jewish religious character, at 2–4 Page Street, Mill Hill. It opened on 1 May 2019 (reason given: "change in status") and has a capacity of 747 and 570 pupils on roll; its headteacher is listed as James Fisher.[15]

Governance

The Hasmonean Multi-Academy Trust (company number 07706488) runs both Hasmonean secondary schools. Companies House lists four directors: Andrew McClusky (from 29 June 2015), Gary Ian Swabel (30 April 2019), Shanni Solomon (14 January 2020) and Eytan Maurice Weisz (1 September 2025).[16] Its persons with significant control, all from 1 May 2019 with the right to appoint and remove directors as a trust, are Daniel Phillip Lyons, Martin Anthony Richman and the JSSM.[17] In 2023 Ofsted named Andrew McClusky as the trust's chief executive and Gary Swabel as chair of its board.[18]

The Hasmonean High School Charitable Trust (charity number 1068303) had income of £6,690,987 and spending of £6,762,187 in the year to 31 August 2025. Its trustees are Ari Joseph Bloom (from 10 November 2016) and Jonathan Mark Miller (from 1 May 2022).[19][20] The Jewish Secondary Schools Movement (charity number 313109), whose trustee is the company The Trustees of the J.S.S.M., exists "to advance Orthodox Jewish education in accordance with the doctrine and principles of the Orthodox Jewish faith as laid down in the Shulchan Aruch". It had income of £173,000 and spending of £353,671 in the year to 31 August 2025.[21]


IDF-linked activity

On 15 April 2021 the Multi-Academy Trust reported that for Yom Ha'atzmaut at the Girls' School "Mizrachi came to provide a quiz and letter writing to Israeli soldiers."[22] The same day it reported that HIPE had run the Yom Hazikaron programme "with a powerful film created by Mizrachi UK"; a pupil was quoted as "nurturing an ambition to serve in the IDF".[23]

At a girls' Yom Hazikaron assembly on 16 May 2019 Rabbi Silverman was reported as saying: "With the foundation of the State of Israel, the Jewish people finally have an army to fight for and to fight for us. ... He was in Gaza ... there is no greater honour than standing in the green uniform to defend Am Yisrael."[24]

On 26 June 2019 Sixth Form shiurim were given by Rabbi Anthony Manning of Midreshet Tehillah, who "and his family live in Alon Shvut" in the Gush Etzion bloc of the occupied West Bank. The Trust noted that his children had completed national service, one "in an IDF combat Unit" and one in Sherut Leumi.[25]

In January 2018 British-born IDF veteran Emanuel Miller of My Truth spoke to Hasmonean lower-sixth girls (as well as boys in Years 8 to 10 and a Year 13 group at JFS).[26]

Beit Halochem UK

Beit Halochem UK, a British charity that raises money for the Beit Halochem rehabilitation centres for disabled Israeli soldiers and victims of attacks in Israel,[27] lists both Hasmonean High School for Girls and Hasmonean High School for Boys among the schools that took part in a non-uniform day in its aid. The charity's "For Schools" page, as archived in February 2025, thanked the schools listed "for showing solidarity with our soldiers".[28] The page also invites schools to host a veteran who will speak to pupils about "courage and resilience" and "the sacrifices made by our soldiers". By November 2026 the wording had become "our veterans", and the page said such visits had been "particularly meaningful" around Yom Ha'atzmaut and Yom Hazikaron.[29] In November 2026 a single "Hasmonean" logo was among those displayed on the charity's schools page.[29]

The chair of Beit Halochem UK is Andrew Wolfson, who according to the charity has been a trustee since April 2016 and chairman since May 2018. The same page says he is also a trustee of The Charles Wolfson Charitable Trust.[30]

Inspections

Date of inspection Type Outcome
20–21 September 2023 Full inspection Good; personal development and sixth-form provision Outstanding[31]

The report named Katherine Brice as headteacher, Andrew McClusky as the trust's chief executive and Gary Swabel as chair.[31] The full inspection history is published by Ofsted.[32]

Contact

External links

See also


Notes

  1. ↑ Hasmonean Multi-Academy Trust, homepage, hasmoneanmat.org.uk, image https://hasmoneanmat.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/bs1.jpg, accessed 6 November 2026.
  2. ↑ Hampstead News, 6 November 1947, p. 5, British Newspaper Archive, accessed 11 November 2026.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Hampstead News, 24 February 1949, p. 7, British Newspaper Archive, accessed 11 November 2026.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Jewish Echo, 6 May 1949, p. 15, British Newspaper Archive, accessed 11 November 2026.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Hampstead News, 18 March 1948, p. 2, British Newspaper Archive, accessed 11 November 2026.
  6. ↑ Daily Herald, 10 July 1950, p. 3, British Newspaper Archive, accessed 11 November 2026.
  7. ↑ https://hasmoneanmat.org.uk/yom-haatzmaut-at-the-girls-school/
  8. ↑ Yom HaAzmaut – 71 years young!, hasmoneanmat.org.uk, accessed 1 November 2026.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Yom Hazikaron, hasmoneanmat.org.uk, accessed 1 November 2026.
  10. ↑ Our Ethos, hasmoneangirls.org.uk, accessed 1 November 2026.
  11. ↑ Editorial 09/05/19, hasmoneanmat.org.uk, accessed 1 November 2026.
  12. ↑ Rami Sherman, hasmoneanmat.org.uk, accessed 1 November 2026.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Hasmonean High School (@HasmoneanSchool), post, 5 May 2022, accessed 6 November 2026.
  14. ↑ Hasmonean High School (@HasmoneanSchool), post, 9 May 2019, accessed 6 November 2026.
  15. ↑ Department for Education, Hasmonean High School for Girls (URN 147238), Get Information about Schools, accessed 1 November 2026.
  16. ↑ Companies House, HASMONEAN MULTI-ACADEMY TRUST (07706488): People, accessed 1 November 2026.
  17. ↑ Companies House, HASMONEAN MULTI-ACADEMY TRUST (07706488): Persons with significant control, accessed 1 November 2026.
  18. ↑ Ofsted, Hasmonean High School for Boys: inspection report, inspection of 7–8 November 2023, accessed 1 November 2026.
  19. ↑ Charity Commission, HASMONEAN HIGH SCHOOL CHARITABLE TRUST - 1068303, Register of Charities, register data extract of 13 October 2026, accessed 1 November 2026.
  20. ↑ Charity Commission, HASMONEAN HIGH SCHOOL CHARITABLE TRUST - 1068303: Trustees, Register of Charities, register data extract of 13 October 2026, accessed 1 November 2026.
  21. ↑ Charity Commission, JEWISH SECONDARY SCHOOLS MOVEMENT - 313109, Register of Charities, register data extract of 13 October 2026, accessed 1 November 2026.
  22. ↑ Hasmonean Multi-Academy Trust, Yom Ha'atzmaut at Hasmonean Girls School, hasmoneanmat.org.uk, 15 April 2021, accessed 2 November 2026.
  23. ↑ Hasmonean Multi-Academy Trust, Yom Hazikaron, hasmoneanmat.org.uk, 15 April 2021, accessed 2 November 2026.
  24. ↑ Hasmonean Multi-Academy Trust, Yom Hazikaron, hasmoneanmat.org.uk, 16 May 2019, accessed 2 November 2026.
  25. ↑ Hasmonean Multi-Academy Trust, Rabbi Manning, hasmoneanmat.org.uk, 26 June 2019, accessed 2 November 2026.
  26. ↑ British-born IDF soldier speaks to 300 London students about his experience, Jewish News, 2 February 2018, accessed 2 November 2026.
  27. ↑ Charity Commission, BEIT HALOCHEM UK - 1146950, Register of Charities, register data extract of 13 October 2026, accessed 1 November 2026.
  28. ↑ Beit Halochem UK, For Schools, bhuk.org, archived by the Wayback Machine on 12 February 2025, accessed 1 November 2026.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Beit Halochem UK, For schools, bhuk.org (page text and school logos), accessed 1 November 2026.
  30. ↑ Beit Halochem UK, Trustees, bhuk.org, accessed 1 November 2026.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Ofsted, Hasmonean High School for Girls: inspection report, inspection of 20–21 September 2023, accessed 1 November 2026.
  32. ↑ Ofsted, Hasmonean High School for Girls (URN 147238), Ofsted reports, accessed 1 November 2026.
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