Yavneh College

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Yavneh College is a school in Elstree near London. The school is run by the Yavneh Foundation Trust a registered charity.

Zionist school

In an article for Al Mayadeen English in August 2022, David Miller wrote:[1]

The Hertsmere Jewish Primary School in North London, for instance, described itself in 2018 as ‘Zionist’.[2] Nearby Yavneh College in Elstree, is described by the Board of Deputies of British Jews as having “Zionist aims”.[3] The school advertised itself, as recently as last year, as ‘a religious Zionist school’ under the heading ‘Me and My Land’.[4] But British Jewish children have no right to the so called ‘land of "Israel"’. Such apologia for ethnic cleansing and settler colonialism should have no place in a democratic society
The school boasts of inviting extremist Zionist groups in year 12 (16-17 years old) to indoctrinate the pupils including a “special programme run in partnership with Mizrachi UK” where they are taught “how to be a positive advocate for "Israel".” Mizrachi is a religious Zionist group, formally signed up to the Zionist movement. The course leads to an “"Israel" advocacy speaking competition”. In Year 13 (17-18 years old) “students are able to take part in an "Israel" course that focusses specifically on "Israel" on campus.” This involves hearing “campus focussed speakers including representatives from UJS and StandWithUs” on “how to be positive advocates for "Israel" in the next stage of their life”. UJS is formally a Zionist organisation for UK students, while StandWithUs in the UK is a subsidiary funded by its US parent which is, in turn, a direct asset of the Zionist regime. According to the former "Israel"i Deputy Foreign Minister, Danny Ayalon, "Israel" uses StandWithUs to ‘amplify our power’ and ‘for leverage’.
Unsurprisingly students from such schools often emerge as extremist supporters of Zionism, and play leadership roles in the Zionist movement. For example, the 2021-22 head of the Union of Jewish Students, Nina Freedman, attended Yavneh College, was a member of the Federation of Zionist Youth, then the president of the Bristol Jewish Society for a year (2019-20) before becoming president of the UJS. She spent the summer of 2019 running propaganda tours to "Israel" for 13-14-year-old Yavneh College pupils, where she was ‘expected to educate the pupils on a variety of topics, including Judaism, "Israeli" culture and politics and secular and Jewish history.’[1]
  • 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]

Israel in the curriculum (2026)

The school's website in 2026 listed among its activities a Yom Hazikaron programme, a Yom Haatzmaut programme and "YCIT (Yavneh College Israel Trip) – Year 9". Visitors and speakers it named included Tzipi Hotovely, described as "Israeli Ambassador".[6] Its PSHE page says Year 11 includes "preparing for Israel Tour".[7] In the sixth form, the Year 12 Israel course starts with the Balfour Declaration and "helps them to strengthen their own relationship with Israel"; the Year 13 course on "Israel on campus" brings in speakers "including representatives from UJS and Stand with Us".[8] A 2018 science newsletter promoted an annual Science Day "Organised by the ZF" (Zionist Federation) featuring "the best of Israeli leading professors".[9]

  • On 13 April 2021 @yavneh_college posted that the Yavneh Schools were marking Yom HaZikaron, “the day when we remember Israel’s fallen soldiers and victims of terror.”[10]
  • In December 2018 The Jewish Chronicle named Yavneh College among schools selected for JNF UK’s £1.2 million Israel-studies grants, saying Yavneh would use funds to take students to Israel to volunteer on JNF UK projects.[11] 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.”[12]
Barry Toberman: Aloni at Yavneh College, "a JNF UK partner school", April 2019.[13]
  • On 12 April 2019 Barry Toberman reported that after JNF UK-hosted events for Yad Tamar, Michael Aloni "addressed 200 students and staff at Yavneh College, a JNF UK partner school".[13]
  • On 26 July 2019 the same paper reported that Yavneh College took part in Beat the Clock, the annual contest run by The King David High School, Manchester; Ruth Wilkinson of JNF UK, which supported the event, called the participating schools "our partner secondary schools".[14]

Israeli universities visit and gratitude board (October 2026)

On 22 October 2026 the school wrote on Instagram: “This morning, we welcomed representatives from a range of Israeli universities to Yavneh College.” It said pupils could learn about “university life in Israel” and that “studying in Israel offers another option to explore as they think about their next steps after sixth form.” The caption added: “It was lovely to welcome back alumna Mollie, representing Reichman University. Thank you to all our visitors for giving our pupils an insight into the opportunities available to them in Israel.”[15]

On 23 October 2026 the school described its classroom gratitude board: “Every Thursday, pupils add their thoughts to the Thank You Hashem board in the IJE Lounge, reflecting on the things they are grateful for.” Its caption said: “Messages include family, friends, health, YCIT, Jewish education, Israel, Shabbat, Yavneh and the simple but powerful words, ‘Being Jewish.’” The post ended “Am Yisrael Chai!”[16]

  • School caption about the Israeli universities visit.[15]

  • Adult university representatives visiting the school.[15]

  • Reichman University stall; current pupils’ visible faces tightly pixelated, adult representatives unblurred.[15]

  • The classroom gratitude board and school caption, including references to YCIT and Israel.[16]

IDF speakers

On 13 September 2019 Year 12 heard a special assembly at which "20 Israeli soldiers from an elite unit" supported by the Israeli charity Peace of Mind "spoke about their experiences and took questions".[17] On 5 May 2022 pupils "listen[ed] to Avi and Devorah Kay tell their extremely moving story of their son Eli" in preparation for Yom Hazikaron, organised by Tribe.[18] In October 2025 Jewish News reported that StandWithUs UK's "Stories of Resilience" tour, with IDF paratrooper and combat-officer speakers, visited Yavneh College.[19]

On 1 April 2022 the school said it was "thrilled to host Danny Limor who was involved in the Mossad operation that brought Ethiopian Jews to Israel".[20]

MDA UK ambulance at Yavneh for Yom Haatzmaut (JC VJCC, July 2024).[21]
  • On 28 February 2023 the school reported that "Today Year 12 had a special assembly with MDA UK learning about their role in Israel and various gap year schemes."[22]
  • An MDA UK report in The Jewish Chronicle VJCC Supplement (12 July 2024) said that in May, to mark Yom Haatzmaut, MDA UK took a retired Magen David Adom ambulance to Yavneh Primary, Yavneh Secondary and Clore Shalom School; pupils "learnt about the work of MDA paramedics in Israel."[21]
JFS, Kantor King Solomon and Yavneh screened When the Smoke Clears for Yom Hazikaron.[23]
  • On 20 April 2018 The Jewish Chronicle reported that JFS, Kantor King Solomon and Yavneh College showed the film When the Smoke Clears (Imaginations Productions for Jerusalem U) for Yom HaZikaron. Daniel Jackson, a year-12 student at Yavneh, said the film "was extremely moving and showed us the harsh reality and raw emotions of life for injured soldiers" and "reminded us all of the ongoing battle that Israel faces and helped us to connect to Yom Hazikaron in a way that we have not done before."[23]

Beit Halochem UK

Beit Halochem UK is a British charity that raises money for the Beit Halochem rehabilitation centres for disabled Israeli soldiers and victims of attacks in Israel.[24] In February 2018 The Jewish Chronicle reported that "Beit Halochem UK has brought over wounded veterans to speak to Immanuel College, JFS and Yavneh College".[25]

The charity's "For Schools" page named Yavneh College among the schools it had "worked with" in the past, in a passage inviting schools to run fundraising events or to choose Beit Halochem as their "charity partner". The list appears in archived copies from January 2022[26] and February 2025,[27] but the passage was removed when the charity redesigned its website.[28] Yavneh College was not among the schools named for the charity's non-uniform day, and its logo was not on the charity's schools page in November 2026.[27][28]

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.[29]

Register data and governance

The Department for Education records Yavneh College (URN 136922) as an academy converter for pupils aged 11 to 18 with a Jewish religious character, in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire. It opened on 1 July 2011, has a capacity of 1,035 and 1,085 pupils on roll, and its headteacher is listed as Spencer Lewis.[30] Its predecessor, also called Yavneh College (URN 134985), was a voluntary aided school which opened on 1 September 2006 and closed on 30 June 2011 on conversion to an academy.[31]

The school is run by Yavneh College Academy Trust (company number 07643712). Companies House lists nine directors:[32]

Name Appointed
Richard Michael Gilbert 14 November 2018
Cindy Goldstein 5 March 2025
Aaron Paul Kaye 16 September 2019
Natalie Leon 3 October 2022
Roz Levin 23 May 2016
Spencer Lewis 1 September 2013
Daniel Braham Morris 5 March 2025
Jacqueline Rudolph 20 May 2019
Susan Stone 11 March 2019

The Yavneh Foundation Trust (charity number 1095796, company number 04443267) exists to further the education of children at the school "under the religious direction of the Chief Rabbi". In the year to 31 August 2025 it had income of £1,065,937 and spending of £1,231,985. Its trustees are Richard Gilbert (chair), Rabbi Alex Chapper, Cindy Goldstein, Joanne Grose, Joshua May, Joshua Pyzer and Roz Levin.[33][34]

Inspections

Date of inspection Type Outcome
22–23 November 2023 Full inspection Good; personal development and sixth-form provision Outstanding[35]
8–9 March 2011 Full inspection (predecessor school, URN 134985) Outstanding[36]
13–14 May 2008 Full inspection (predecessor school, URN 134985) Good[37]

The full inspection history is published by Ofsted.[38]

People

Former pupils

Resources

Images

  • Banner image from the Yavneh College website (accessed 5 November 2026)

  • Header photograph from Yavneh College's Jewish Life page (filename dated 11 September 2024; pupils' faces blurred; accessed 5 November 2026)

  • Facebook cover photograph of the school building (accessed 6 November 2026)

External links

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 David Miller, How grooming works: the radicalisation of Jewish youth, Al Mayadeen English, 24 August 2022, accessed 1 November 2026.
  2. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20201005071314/https://d3giikteahxfyn.cloudfront.net/087D520001/4b52e35e-581c-4f82-abfd-822fa1520591 p7
  3. ↑ YAVNEH COLLEGE INSPECTION REPORT Inspected under the auspices of Pikuach. Retrieved from the Internet Archive of 19 January 2021.
  4. ↑ University Preparation. Retrieved from the Internet Archive of 11 April 2021.
  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. ↑ British Values / SMSC, yavnehcollege.org, accessed 1 November 2026.
  7. ↑ Curriculum-PSHE, yavnehcollege.org, accessed 1 November 2026.
  8. ↑ Jewish Life In The Sixth Form, yavnehcollege.org, accessed 1 November 2026.
  9. ↑ Science Focus – YC Newsletter, yavnehcollege.org, 6 December 2018, accessed 1 November 2026.
  10. ↑ Yavneh College (@yavneh_college), post, 13 April 2021, accessed 6 November 2026.
  11. ↑ Barry Toberman, JNF invests heavily in Israel studies for UK pupils, The Jewish Chronicle, 14 December 2018, accessed 6 November 2026.
  12. ↑ Barry Toberman, JNF funds UK pupils for Israel studies, The Jewish Chronicle, 14 December 2018, p.1, accessed 7 November 2026.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Barry Toberman, The Jewish Chronicle, 12 April 2019, p.29, archive, accessed 6 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 Yavneh College (@yavneh_college), Israeli universities visit, Instagram, 22 October 2026, accessed 7 November 2026.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Yavneh College (@yavneh_college), Thank You Hashem board, Instagram, 23 October 2026, accessed 7 November 2026.
  17. ↑ Peace of Mind - Year 12 special Assembly, yavnehcollege.org, 13 September 2019, accessed 2 November 2026.
  18. ↑ Yom Hazikaron 2022, yavnehcollege.org, 5 May 2022, accessed 2 November 2026.
  19. ↑ Thousands hear Israeli survivors and soldiers recount 7 October horrors on UK tour, Jewish News, 17 October 2025, accessed 2 November 2026.
  20. ↑ Danny Limor Visit, yavnehcollege.org, 1 April 2022, accessed 6 November 2026.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 The Jewish Chronicle VJCC Supplement, 12 July 2024, p.004, "Nationwide roadshow brings Magen David Adom to the UK", archive, accessed 6 November 2026.
  22. ↑ Megan David Adom UK, yavnehcollege.org, 28 February 2023, accessed 6 November 2026.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 The Jewish Chronicle, 20 April 2018, p.18, archive, accessed 6 November 2026.
  24. ↑ Charity Commission, BEIT HALOCHEM UK - 1146950, Register of Charities, register data extract of 13 October 2026, accessed 1 November 2026.
  25. ↑ The Jewish Chronicle, 9 February 2018, p. 26, "Students stand by Israel's veterans" (Charity Matters supplement), JC Archive (subscription), accessed 1 November 2026.
  26. ↑ Beit Halochem UK, For Schools, bhuk.org, archived by the Wayback Machine on 24 January 2022, accessed 1 November 2026.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Beit Halochem UK, For Schools, bhuk.org, archived by the Wayback Machine on 12 February 2025, accessed 1 November 2026.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Beit Halochem UK, For schools, bhuk.org (page text and school logos), accessed 1 November 2026.
  29. ↑ Beit Halochem UK, Trustees, bhuk.org, accessed 1 November 2026.
  30. ↑ Department for Education, Yavneh College (URN 136922), Get Information about Schools, accessed 1 November 2026.
  31. ↑ Department for Education, Yavneh College (URN 134985), Get Information about Schools, accessed 1 November 2026.
  32. ↑ Companies House, YAVNEH COLLEGE ACADEMY TRUST (07643712): People, accessed 1 November 2026.
  33. ↑ Charity Commission, YAVNEH FOUNDATION TRUST - 1095796, Register of Charities, register data extract of 13 October 2026, accessed 1 November 2026.
  34. ↑ Charity Commission, YAVNEH FOUNDATION TRUST - 1095796: Trustees, Register of Charities, register data extract of 13 October 2026, accessed 1 November 2026.
  35. ↑ Ofsted, Yavneh College: inspection report, inspection of 22–23 November 2023, accessed 1 November 2026.
  36. ↑ Ofsted, Yavneh College: inspection report, inspection of 8–9 March 2011, accessed 1 November 2026.
  37. ↑ Ofsted, Yavneh College: inspection report, inspection of 13–14 May 2008, accessed 1 November 2026.
  38. ↑ Ofsted, Yavneh College (URN 136922), Ofsted reports, accessed 1 November 2026.
  39. ↑ https://www.borehamwoodtimes.co.uk/news/17917024.rebecca-hilsenrath-awarded-honorary-doctorate-university-hertfordshire/
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