Etz Chaim Jewish Primary School

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Modern Orthodox Jewish free school in Mill Hill, London

Etz Chaim Jewish Primary School
Motto
Established 1 September 2011
Type Free school / single-academy trust primary
Religious affiliation(s)
Headteacher
Address
City
County
Postcode
Country
Enrolment c. 176–179
Gender Mixed
Age range –
Website https://www.etzchaim-primaryschool.org.uk/


Etz Chaim Jewish Primary School is a one-form-entry Modern Orthodox Jewish free school for children aged 4–11 in Mill Hill, London Borough of Barnet. It opened in September 2011 as one of the first free schools and is the sole school in the single-academy trust Etz Chaim Jewish Primary School Trust (company number 07471707). It operates under the auspices of the Office of the Chief Rabbi.[1][2]

History

The school opened for the 2011/12 academic year in temporary accommodation and moved to its permanent purpose-built site at 20 Daws Lane in September 2013. Founding headteacher was Yvonne Baron. Hannah Martin (previously deputy head and inclusion leader at Clore Shalom Primary School) took over in September 2022 as only the second headteacher.[3][1]

In 2025 the school marked its bar mitzvah year with the inauguration of a custom illustrated Torah scroll.[4]

Character and curriculum

The school describes itself as committed to Modern Orthodox Judaism, with Jewish studies and Ivrit forming a substantial part of the timetable (approximately 20% in recent Ofsted reporting). It combines the national curriculum with Jewish values, the Jewish calendar and British values. It is a mixed, non-selective primary with below-average proportions of pupils eligible for free school meals, with English as an additional language, or with SEND. Enrolment has been reported around 176–179 pupils.[1][5]

Inspections

  • Ofsted graded inspection, 20–21 February 2024: overall effectiveness Good; quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years all Good. Previous short inspection (November 2017) also Good. Headteacher listed as Hannah Martin; co-chairs of the trust board Elizabeth Bennett and Samuel Shaerf. Inspectors noted high ambitions, sequenced curriculum knowledge, and a warm, nurturing atmosphere.[5][6]
  • Pikuach (Board of Deputies Jewish studies inspection) has rated the school positively on multiple occasions, including outstanding features for Jewish studies and an “exceptional Jewish atmosphere”. A 2024 Pikuach report graded leadership/management and spiritual/personal development outstanding and overall Jewish studies Good with outstanding features. Earlier reports (including 2018) were outstanding across categories.[7][8]

Recent DfE data (2025 reporting) showed strong Year 6 outcomes, with the school among the higher-performing Jewish state primaries nationally in reading, writing and combined measures.[9]

Governance and leadership

The school is the only school in the Etz Chaim Jewish Primary School Trust (Companies House 07471707; incorporated 16 December 2010; registered office 20 Daws Lane). Headteacher: Hannah Martin. President: The Lord Levy. Honorary Principal: Rabbi Schochet. Designated Safeguarding Lead: headteacher; deputies include the school business manager and deputy head.[2][10][11]

Trustees and members include (from GIAS listings, subject to change): co-chairs or chairs such as Samuel Shaerf and Elizabeth Bennett; other trustees/members have included Antony Kintish, Benjamin Levy, David Berkley, Ian Aarons, Francine Epstein, parent governors and others. The headteacher serves ex-officio.[2]

Israel and Zionism

Under the auspices of the Office of the Chief Rabbi and committed to Modern Orthodox Judaism. The school states that “Our Jewish ethos and values permeate all aspects of school life and learning within it” and aims “to develop within the pupils a positive commitment and passion for Judaism and British Values.” Ivrit is described as allowing children “to develop their Jewish identity and links to Israel in more depth.”

The curriculum and school life include regular, explicit engagement with Israel and Jerusalem: annual Yom Ha’atzmaut celebrations (hummus-making, 'Israeli dancing', maps of Israel, songs including “Happy Birthday to Israel,” art projects, Skype with children in Israel, “tour around Israel” activities, and in 2023 a whole-school day that included training as soldiers in the IDF, singing Hatikva, and learning about Israeli inventions and people); participation in Israel 70 and Israel 75 art projects and exhibitions; Israeli Space Week (Ilan Ramon / Bereshit); Israeli Dance Festival and workshops with the Israeli Dance Institute; a Shinshinit (Israeli emissary) who taught Israeli culture, food, dances and discussed topics including the Peace Process and kibbutzim; fundraising for the Israel Guide Dog Centre, Laniado Hospital in Israel, and Jewish Child’s Day (supporting children in Israel); a visit/discussion involving a Beit Halochem veteran about the rehabilitation centre in Israel for disabled veterans; and Yom Yerushalayim assemblies. On the 2016–2017 Yom Yerushalayim page the school states: “The children enjoyed a special assembly as part of the celebrations for Yom Yerushalayim. They sung songs about Jerusalem accompanied by a guitar. A visitor from Bnei Akiva youth movement shared stories about this special day. Yom Yerushalayim is the day when we celebrate the reunification of Jerusalem and the establishment of Israeli control over the Old City which took place after the Six Day War in 1967.” The school has also welcomed new Israeli families (noted in 2023) and hosted educators from Jerusalem with PaJeS.[12][13][14][15][16][17]

Beit Halochem

On Wednesday veterans from Beit Halochem came to visit Years 5 and 6. They spoke about their injuries and how the rehabilitation centre in Israel has helped them get back to a life of normality. The children respectfully asked lots of questions and were really captivated by the talk.[18]

Funding

State-funded free school / single-academy trust (Department for Education revenue funding). Voluntary “Educational Supplement” donations from parents (recommended approximately £1,980 per pupil annually, with sibling discounts) used to fund the Jewish studies programme and other provision not covered by government funding: “Government funding is not designed to cover our Jewish studies programme. This is paid for through these contributions.” Accepts donations from charitable trusts, business accounts and charity vouchers. PTA fundraising and events, including a 2023 gala dinner that raised over £25,000 (attended by school President Lord Levy and Rob Rinder). Small DfE capital/condition grants recorded. Additional school-initiated fundraising has supported Israel-linked causes including the Israel Guide Dog Centre, Laniado Hospital and Jewish Child’s Day.[19][20][21]

PTA

The school has an active Parent-Teacher Association. Following a PTA AGM in September 2026 the new committee included Shoshi Vittori (Chair), Avihoo Mamka (Secretary), Lauren Kaiser and Yaeli Englander (Treasurers), Katya Vashenko and Ronelle Arbib as new members.[22]

Contact

20 Daws Lane
Mill Hill
London NW7 4SL
Telephone: 020 8906 2983
Email: admin@etzchaim-primaryschool.org.uk
Website: etzchaim-primaryschool.org.uk

See also

External links

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 About Etz Chaim, school website.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Etz Chaim Jewish Primary School, Get Information about Schools, URN 136938.
  3. ↑ Toby Porter, Etz Chaim appoints only second head, 11 years after it was founded, Jewish News, 7 June 2022.
  4. ↑ Etz Chaim celebrates its bar mitzvah with new ‘illustrated Torah’, Jewish Chronicle, 11 June 2025.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Ofsted inspection report, Etz Chaim Jewish Primary School, 20–21 February 2024 (published 12 April 2024).
  6. ↑ Michelle Rosenberg, Etz Chaim achieves ‘good’ Ofsted rating, Jewish News, 3 April 2024.
  7. ↑ Simon Rocker, Inspectors hail Etz Chaim’s ‘exceptional Jewish atmosphere’, Jewish Chronicle, 31 January 2024.
  8. ↑ Simon Rocker, Outstanding Jewish studies report for Etz Chaim School in Mill Hill, Jewish Chronicle, 29 March 2018.
  9. ↑ Mike Brooke, Top results for Mill Hill’s Etz Chaim primary school, Times Series, 16 September 2025.
  10. ↑ Home, school website.
  11. ↑ Etz Chaim Jewish Primary School Trust, Companies House.
  12. ↑ About Etz Chaim, school website.
  13. ↑ Ivrit, Etz Chaim Jewish Primary School.
  14. ↑ Site search for “israel”, Etz Chaim Jewish Primary School (multiple Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel 70/75, Beit Halochem, Israel Guide Dogs and related entries).
  15. ↑ Year 4, Etz Chaim Jewish Primary School (Israel 75 Art project; Israeli Space Week).Headteacher Blog Archive Summer 2 2023 (Shinshinit Yuval on Israel, kibbutzim and the Peace Process), Etz Chaim Jewish Primary School.
  16. ↑ Yom Yerushalayim, Etz Chaim Jewish Primary School.
  17. ↑ Headteacher Blog Archive Summer 1 2023 (Yom Ha’atzmaut 75 whole-school day including IDF soldier training activities and Hatikva), Etz Chaim Jewish Primary School.
  18. ↑ Beit Halochem Veteran, Etz Chaim Jewish Primary School, 2018–2019 photo gallery.
  19. ↑ Educational Supplement, Etz Chaim Jewish Primary School.
  20. ↑ Primary school raises £25k at charity gala dinner, Jewish News, 10 May 2023.
  21. ↑ Find that Charity / GrantNav records of DfE grants to URN 136938.
  22. ↑ Headteacher Blog, Etz Chaim Jewish Primary School, entry prior to 25 September 2026.
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