Akiva School
Akiva School is a Zionist Jewish school in London. It is run by The Akiva School Foundation.
'Akiva opened in 1981 as a one-form independent (fee-paying) school in a three-storey former convent school building on the Manor House site in Finchley, North West London, which was part of the Sternberg Centre for Judaism. The Sternberg Centre for Judaism is the largest Jewish communal site in Western Europe and houses a number of organisations, including the Leo Baeck College (which trains Progressive rabbis and teachers), the New North London (Masorti) Synagogue and the headquarters of the Movement for Reform Judaism.'[1]
General Information
URN: 135086 DfE number: 302/3520 UKPRN: 10072363
Website:https://www.akivaschool.org/
Local authority: Barnet
Address: The Sternberg Centre for Judaism, 80 E End Rd, London N3 2SY
Akiva is a mixed, voluntary aided school for 4 to 11 years old in Barnet. Akiva School is the successor of Akiva School at Levy House which closed on 31 August 2007. The headmistress of the school at the time was Sue De Botton. [2]. In 2008, the school governors appointed Susy Stone as the new headmistress of Akiva.[3]. The current headmisstress is Claire Silver.
The school is described as the 'only Progressive Jewish school in the UK'. Priority is given to families with an on-going commitment to Progressive Judaism and admission criteria reflects the 'two connections the school has'. The first is the 'connection with our stakeholder communities in the The Movement for Reform Judaism and Liberal Judaism (UK), which created the school. The second is a connection with the New North London Synagogue which is also based at the Manour House site.[4]Local qualifying synagogues have been specified to include the following:
- Alyth
- Sha'arei Tsedek North London Reform Synagogue
- Finchley Reform Synagogue
An article from 2008, 'Barnet Jewish School celebrates new building' highlighted that the school was built in 1981 and converted to a state school in September 2008. The original school was built with the aid of Sir Sigmund Sternberg, in alignment with the progressive vision of Rabbi Marmur. The following dignitaries attended the celebrations for the opening of the new school building: Rabbi Dow Marmur, former Barnet mayor Maureen Braun, former Barnet council leader and MP Mike Freer, Sir Sigmund and Lady Sternberg.[5]
The school is registered to The Akiva School Foundation which is registered to a different address to the school: 20 Caenwood Court Hampstead Lane, London, N6 4RU, the registered address of SIMMONS SECURITIES LIMITED[6].
Zionist school
From a 2018 inspection report by the Board of Deputies of British Jews, posted on the school website:
- The school has a strong affiliation to Israel. Akiva School is proud of its Zionist ethos. Knowledge of and a love of Israel permeate the formal and informal curriculum, usually culminating in a 10-day trip to Israel in Year 6. Israel’s Independence Day is a highlight of the year, and celebrations are organised primarily by the Hebrew Department and Israeli parents at the school.[7]
- Jewish values are exemplified through the school’s approach to tzedaka(charity). Each year pupils discuss and select three charities, both Jewish and non-Jewish. Charities sponsored include Cancer Research UK, Great Ormond Street Hospital and ‘My Israel’. In addition, the school encourages pupils and their families to take part in Jewish communal initiatives, such as ‘Mitzvah Day.’[7]
Donors
The Akiva School Foundation raises funds by promoting charitable activities amongst the parents of pupiles attending the Akiva Primary School and encourages them to donate to support the activities of the school. According to the accounts for a small company submitted by The Akiva School Foundation submitted on the 11 Jan 2024, the following donors had contributed to the school:
- Cecil Rosen Foundation provided a donation of £100,000 for the refurbishment of computer rooms and staffing facilities[8]
People
School Governors
| Name | Appointed by | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claire Silver | Appointed by GB/board | 2 September 2022 | 1 September 2025 |
| Daniel Heymann | Elected by parents | 12 November 2021 | 11 November 2024 |
| Gail Roston | Appointed by GB/board | 22 September 2022 | 21 September 2025 |
| Hannah Kingston | Appointed by foundation/Trust | 22 September 2022 | 21 September 2025 |
| Jo Brown | Elected by parents | 12 November 2021 | 11 November 2024 |
| Jon Papier | Appointed by foundation/Trust | 19 September 2022 | 18 September 2025 |
| Marina Simmons | Appointed by foundation/Trust | 19 September 2022 | 18 September 2025 |
| Stuart Warner | Appointed by foundation/Trust | 19 September 2022 | 18 September 2025 |
| Tamara Gordon | Elected by school staff | 9 September 2022 | 8 September 2025 |
===Parent Governors===<
ref name=governors”>https://archive.is/ltEsN/</ref>
| Name | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| Liron Rosiner Reshef | 20/11/2022 | 19/11/2025 |
| Jo Brown | 12/11/2021 | 11/11/2024 |
| Daniel Heymann | 12/11/2021 | 11/11/2024 |
Former pupils
Funding
Lewis Family Charitable Trust |
Contact
- Website akivaschool.org
Notes
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20230103120956/https://www.akivaschool.org/Introduction/
- ↑ https://www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Establishments/Establishment/Details/101389#school-links
- ↑ https://www.thejc.com/news/community/new-head-for-akiva-umphe10c/
- ↑ https://www.akivaschool.org/docs/policies/Jewish_Studies_Policy_May_2023.pdf/
- ↑ https://www.times-series.co.uk/news/2034871.barnet-jewish-school-celebrates-new-building//
- ↑ https://find-and-update.company information.service.gov.uk/company/00950770/
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20230103121416/https://www.akivaschool.org/docs/AkivaPrimary2018.pdf
- ↑ https://shorturl.at/HFcxu
- ↑ https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/document-api-images-live.ch.gov.uk/docs/QY1rwNQ8vLO4zmj9Kmehttps://www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Establishments/Establishment/Details/135086#school-governance