The King David High School, Manchester

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The King David High School (137309) is a Manchester based Mainstream Jewish school (Mixed 11-18)

The school is run by The King David High School (Academy) (Company number 07716057) under the auspices of the United Synagogue

Relation to Zionism

  • Jewish and British values are at the core of everything that occurs in the school, and King David promotes British Values that are common to all and understood by the whole community. Displays reflect the combination of those values and the Jewish and Zionist ethos of the school.'[1]
  • 'the centrality of the State of Israel and Zionism, mark the uniqueness of this unit'.[2]
  • 'Our school has a Zionist ethos. In years 7-9 students will study and self-contained unit on Israel, helping them to develop an appreciation of the State, the people of Israel its’ history and culture.[3]'
  • 'There are opportunities for prayer and communal worship. In the main school, students are confident in reciting the first paragraph of the Shema (major prayer), prayers for the state of Israel and for the King'.[4]
  • The school has been involved with the UJIA programme of Israel education:
Our grants to Jewish schools also ensured over 5,000 Jewish pupils engaged with outstanding Israel learning and events at JFS, JCOSS and Yavneh College in London, and The King David High School in Manchester. Participants heard from outstanding speakers, commemorated Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut in meaningful ceremonies, and took part in various fun and educational Israel-themed activities throughout the year.[5]
  • The school's Ivrit page says that "As a Jewish school with a strong orientation toward Israel and Jewish heritage, the study of Hebrew plays a key role in connecting students with language, culture and identity."[6] Its Jewish studies page says pupils in Years 7–9 "study a dedicated unit on Israel, reflecting the school's Zionist ethos", and lists "Overseas trips to Poland and Israel" among informal education activities.[7]
  • In April 2026 the school held an extended Yom HaZikaron assembly "in partnership with UJIA" "to remember the tragic loss of those who gave their lives defending the State of Israel, as well as victims of terror", followed by a Yom Ha'atzmaut "day of celebration to honour Israel's independence" at which pupils and staff "proudly wore blue and white", "raised funds for Hatzala UK", and Key Stage 3 had "bouncy castles, an Israeli-themed photo booth, and interactive experiences celebrating Israeli culture".[8]
September 2025 school newsletter: item headed "IDF Colonel Golan Vach".[9]
  • On Monday 15 September 2025, according to the school's September 2025 newsletter, "Colonel Golan Vach of the Israel Defense Forces spoke to year 11 Religious Studies class". The newsletter said that as a member of the IDF Search and Rescue division he "told stories of international search and rescue, including most recently in Turkey", and that he "explained how his unique skills are used in Gaza in identifying underground tunnels, which Hamas terrorists use to infiltrate Israel and cause terrorist activities". It added that he "emphasised the IDF's emphasis on morality and values in trying to limit civilian casualties, even at the cost of IDF troops".[9]
  • The same newsletter said that Year 10 heard guest speaker Mr Simon Munk on Friday 12 September 2025 about his experience "making aliyah 30 years ago" and integrating into Israeli society; later sentences in the same item spell his surname "Monk". The school thanked WZO UK "for reaching out and allowing us the opportunity to hear Mr Monk's story".[9]
  • The same newsletter said that Marsha Gladstone of the Yoni Jesner Foundation and Sophie Wolfstein of GIFT launched the Yoni Jesner Award, "in memory of Yoni Jesner, who was tragically killed in a bus bombing in Israel 23 years ago", noting that the award is "geared towards Year 8 pupils".[9]
The King David High School on X, 24 May 2019: "Year 9 Israel Tour at the Kotel".[10]
  • On 24 May 2019 the school’s official X account posted “Year 9 Israel Tour at the Kotel,” with hashtags including #IsraelTour.[10]
  • On 20 April 2018 the same account posted “MazL Tov Israel. 70th celebrations by drone on the @KDHSchool and @kdpsmanchester campus.”[11]
  • In December 2018 The Jewish Chronicle reported that JNF UK would distribute £1.2 million over four years to 18 Jewish schools for Israel studies, naming Manchester King David among the selected schools.[12] The print report, headed “JNF funds UK pupils for Israel studies”, stated: “Primary and secondary schools were invited to apply for funding and 18 were selected, among them JFS, Yavneh College, Immanuel College and Manchester King David.” It added: “Immanuel, Yavneh College and JFS will use their money to take students to Israel, where they will volunteer on JNF UK projects.” Of other, unnamed schools it said: “Other schools will be assisted by young religious women on the Sherut Leumi national service programme, which offers an alternative to serving in the IDF.”[13]
  • On 26 July 2019 The Jewish Chronicle reported that Beat the Clock, "the annual contest run by King David High School in Manchester", was supported by JNF UK; Ruth Wilkinson of JNF UK called the participating schools "our partner secondary schools". A JFS team won; "a team from Yavneh Boys (King David's religious stream) edged out others from Yavneh Girls, Yavneh College and Immanuel College to clinch second place."[14]

7 October memorial assembly (2026)

On 7 October 2026 the school wrote on Instagram: “Today, our school community came together in a special assembly to remember all those who were murdered in the October 7th attack.” It said: “As we reflected on the lives lost, we honored the memory of Vivian Silver, a peace activist from Kibbutz Be’eri” and “We lit a yartzheit candle for all who lost their lives. We also listened to music played on the ‘Thereisenstadt violin’. May their memories be a blessing.”[15]

The accompanying photographs show memorial candles arranged as a Star of David and a card reading “HOSTAGE / ELI SHARABI”. Another shows a memorial poster for Libby Cohen-Meguri, pictured in olive uniform with an Israeli-flag shoulder patch; the poster gives the dates 5.6.2001–7.10.2023 and the website remember-libby.co.il.[15]

  • The school’s assembly post and caption.[15]

  • Star of David of memorial candles, with the Eli Sharabi card and memorial portraits.[15]

  • Libby Cohen-Meguri memorial poster, showing her in uniform; she was 22 at death.[15]

Overview and intake

The King David High School in Crumpsall became an academy on 17 August 2011. It contains a mixed main school and two single-sex units, Yavneh Boys and Yavneh Girls.[16][17] The 2024 Pikuach report (775 pupils) said that changing Jewish demographics in Manchester had led to fewer Jewish applicants, so that "the number of non-Jewish students in the main school has increased, particularly in the lower years. Governors are reviewing this change in demographics."[18]

Governance

The academy trust, The King David High School (company number 07716057), is a standalone academy; Ofsted noted in 2026 a new headteacher, "a change to the Chair of the Trust and several new members of the board".[17] Its directors at Companies House are:[19]

Name Appointed
Sam Bacall 12 September 2025
Tracy Basger (headteacher) 1 December 2025
Andrew Spencer Berkeley 1 September 2016
Stephen Edward Elias 15 December 2024
Sue Fagelman 18 January 2023
Arran Alexander Fruhman 18 July 2022
Nadia Joseph 1 July 2025
Simon Elliot Kaye 18 January 2023
Timothy Myerson 4 August 2025
Rafi Neumann 18 July 2022
Simone Francine Pinkus 18 July 2022
Andrew Lloyd Neil Saipe 18 July 2022
Gordon Singer 18 January 2023
Rabbi Daniel Yonatan Walker 1 July 2021

Inspections

Date Inspectorate and type Outcome
23 June 2026 Ofsted, report card Strong standard for achievement and for personal development and wellbeing; expected standard for attendance and behaviour, curriculum and teaching, inclusion, and leadership and governance; safeguarding met[17]
6–7 June 2023 Ofsted, full inspection Requires improvement[20]
10–11 November 2021 Ofsted, full inspection Inadequate (personal development, and leadership and management, inadequate)[21]
5–6 February 2024 Pikuach (section 48) Good (grade 2) in all areas[18]

The 2021 report found that "over time, there have been widespread failures in how leaders protect pupils from harm". It also noted that a 2019 inspection report "was quashed by consent".[21] The full inspection history is published by Ofsted.[22]

Commentary

In December 2024 David Miller wrote an article for the Islamic Human Rights Commission journal The Long View arguing that British Jewish schools have a "Zionist ethos – as opposed to a simply Jewish faith ethos".[23] Miller wrote that schools "under the authority of the United Synagogue" include "the King David Schools (primary and secondary) in Manchester", and that these "are all effectively Zionist".[23]

Funding

External links

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ https://www.kdhs.org.uk/uploads/1/3/5/4/13549444/kingdavidmanchester2017.pdf
  2. ↑ https://archive.ph/zoBuR
  3. ↑ https://archive.ph/zoBuR
  4. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20241215100923/https://www.kdhs.org.uk/uploads/1/3/5/4/13549444/20_03_24__pikuach_final_report__the_king_david_high_school_%5B88%5D__1_.pdf
  5. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20201104152531/https://ujia.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/5742-UJIA-Annual-Report-2018-2019-SP-ONLINE.pdf
  6. ↑ Ivrit, kdhs.org.uk, accessed 1 November 2026.
  7. ↑ Jewish Studies, kdhs.org.uk, accessed 1 November 2026.
  8. ↑ Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha'atzmaut, kdhs.org.uk, 24 April 2026, accessed 1 November 2026.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 KDHS Newsletter, kdhs.org.uk, September 2025 (File:KDHS Newsletter September 2025.pdf), accessed 6 November 2026.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 The King David High School, Manchester (@KDHSchool), post, 24 May 2019, accessed 6 November 2026.
  11. ↑ The King David High School, Manchester (@KDHSchool), post, 20 April 2018, accessed 6 November 2026.
  12. ↑ Barry Toberman, JNF invests heavily in Israel studies for UK pupils, The Jewish Chronicle, 14 December 2018, accessed 6 November 2026.
  13. ↑ Barry Toberman, JNF funds UK pupils for Israel studies, The Jewish Chronicle, 14 December 2018, p.1, accessed 7 November 2026.
  14. ↑ The Jewish Chronicle, 26 July 2019, p.15, archive, accessed 6 November 2026.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 The King David High School, Manchester (@kdhschool), 7 October memorial assembly, Instagram, 7 October 2026, accessed 7 November 2026.
  16. ↑ Department for Education, The King David High School (URN 137309), Get Information about Schools, accessed 1 November 2026.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Ofsted, The King David High School: inspection report, inspection of 23 June 2026, accessed 1 November 2026.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Pikuach, The King David High School: inspection report, inspection of 5–6 February 2024, pikuach.org.uk, accessed 1 November 2026.
  19. ↑ Companies House, THE KING DAVID HIGH SCHOOL (07716057): People, accessed 1 November 2026.
  20. ↑ Ofsted, The King David High School: inspection report, inspection of 6–7 June 2023, accessed 1 November 2026.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Ofsted, The King David High School: inspection report, inspection of 10–11 November 2021, accessed 1 November 2026.
  22. ↑ Ofsted, The King David High School (URN 137309), Ofsted reports, accessed 1 November 2026.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 David Miller, "How do we De-Zionise British schools?", The Long View vol. 6 no. 4, Islamic Human Rights Commission, 3 December 2024, accessed 1 November 2026.
  24. ↑ https://archive.ph/hG7Ma
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