Leeds Jewish Free School
Leeds Jewish Free School (LJFS) is a Jewish free school for pupils aged 11 to 18 on the Henry Cohen Campus, Wentworth Avenue, Leeds. It shares the campus with Brodetsky Primary School. The Department for Education records that it opened on 9 September 2013, with 131 pupils on roll against a capacity of 125, and Mrs Charlotte Kelsey as headteacher.[1] The school is under the religious authority of the Office of the Chief Rabbi.
Relation to Israel
In 2023 the school's website stated: "LJFS teaches Ivrit, not only as a modern foreign language, but also as a vehicle linking Jewish heritage and practice to Israel."[2] Pikuach's 2017 report said that students "partake in the Community Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day) service; the Community Yom Ha'atzmaut (Israel Independence Day) and Yom Hazikaron (Remembrance Day) ceremonies".[3]
Jewish studies inspection
Pikuach inspected the school on 20 and 21 March 2023 and judged it outstanding overall (grade 1). It recorded 137 pupils and named Dan Cohen as chair of governors and Susy Hardacre as headteacher. It reported that "The teaching of Ivrit (Hebrew) straddles the Jewish Studies and Modern Foreign Languages departments", and that the head of Jewish studies, Ivrit teachers and Jewish studies teachers work across both the primary and secondary schools.[4]
Inspections
Ofsted judged the school good in June 2015 and confirmed that it continued to be good in February 2019.[5][6] At an ungraded inspection in April 2024, it found no change to the good judgement but said the next inspection would be graded. It named Charlie Kelsey as interim executive headteacher.[7] At a report-card inspection on 15 September 2026, Ofsted graded attendance and behaviour as a strong standard and the other areas as the expected standard. It found that safeguarding standards were met. It also reported: "However, pupils' understanding of different faiths remains underdeveloped."[8]
Inspection history
| Date | Inspectorate and type | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 15 September 2026 | Ofsted, standard inspection | Report card: strong standard for attendance and behaviour; expected standard for inclusion, curriculum and teaching, achievement, personal development and wellbeing, and leadership and governance; safeguarding standards met[8] |
| 9 and 10 April 2024 | Ofsted, standard inspection | No change to good; next inspection to be graded[7] |
| 12 February 2019 | Ofsted, short inspection | Continues to be good[6] |
| 17–18 June 2015 | Ofsted, standard inspection | Good[5] |
The full list of reports is published by Ofsted.[9]
Company
The Leeds Jewish Free School (company) (company number 07647432) was incorporated on 25 May 2011.[10] Its current directors are Alexander Leonard Abrams (appointed 25 May 2011), Lisa Rochelle Baker (appointed 28 September 2022), Richard Paul Bentley (appointed 1 December 2022), Jason Ian Broch (appointed 1 September 2013), Daniel Andrew Cohen (appointed 25 May 2011), Reuven Zanvill Cohen (appointed 25 May 2011), Charlotte Kelsey (appointed 30 November 2023), Daniel Simon Wilder (appointed 19 March 2026) and Emma Ruth Wisnia (appointed 30 June 2022).[11]
See also
External links
Notes
- ↑ Department for Education, Leeds Jewish Free School (URN 139773), Get Information about Schools, accessed 1 November 2026.
- ↑ Jewish Values and Ethos, ljfs.org, archived by the Wayback Machine on 3 March 2023, accessed 1 November 2026.
- ↑ Leeds Jewish Free School inspection report (2017), Pikuach, archived by the Wayback Machine on 6 October 2019, accessed 1 November 2026.
- ↑ Pikuach, Leeds Jewish Free School: inspection report, inspection of 20–21 March 2023, pikuach.org.uk, accessed 1 November 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Ofsted, Leeds Jewish Free School: inspection report, inspection of 17–18 June 2015, accessed 1 November 2026.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Ofsted, Leeds Jewish Free School: inspection report, inspection of 12 February 2019, accessed 1 November 2026.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Ofsted, Leeds Jewish Free School: inspection report, inspection of 9 and 10 April 2024, accessed 1 November 2026.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Ofsted, Leeds Jewish Free School: inspection report, inspection of 15 September 2026, accessed 1 November 2026.
- ↑ Ofsted, Leeds Jewish Free School (URN 139773), Ofsted reports, accessed 1 November 2026.
- ↑ Companies House, THE LEEDS JEWISH FREE SCHOOL (07647432): Company overview, accessed 1 November 2026.
- ↑ Companies House, THE LEEDS JEWISH FREE SCHOOL (07647432): People, accessed 1 November 2026.