Jewish-Friendly Prep Schools

[Bellaluna3456]

Hi! I’m moving to London from the US and am looking at secular girls prep schools for my daughters in central/west London. I have heard antisemitism in London can be more insidious than in the US and am a bit concerned about the schools as my family is Jewish. I already have a short list of schools that we're excited to explore, but was curious if folks have any insight on specific secular girls schools in central/west London they know to be friendly for Jewish families -- or conversely, know to be problematic. Thank you!

Hello,
the most ‘Jewish’ but non Jewish schools with a few in each class I would say are :

1. channing
2. SHHS
3. sarum hall
4. st Christopher’s
5. possibly the Village
6. JPS (although Jewish school) in Maida Vale

you won’t find a great deal of schools with a few Jewish children in west London, or even central. Maybe there might be 1 other in a class? Nearly 80% of Jewish children in the UK attend Jewish schools now, with more and more going due to anti-semitism. The most luck you’ll have are schools in North London where Jewish families live.

Anecdotally I was told by a friend in North London that a lot of Jewish families prefer to send their children out of London to school in Hertfordshire e.g. Haberdashers Askes in Elstree. This is 2nd-hand info though.

@Bellaluna3456

How old are your daughters, OP?

Despite there being a lot of anti-semitism perpetuated in the (right wing media) and other scaremongering, it’s very rare. I’ve not experience a single instance. Unfortunately racism and sexism is more prevalent.

Agree if you want a higher proportion you need to look at North London/Herts. DS is at a private school and 5 out of 20 are Jewish or have a Jewish parent.

We also have Jewish primary schools but again I think you’re looking at North/North West London.

Posters please be careful about posting on this thread. Whilst it could be entirely legitimate, in the current climate this information could be used to do harm to Jewish children.

To be on the safe side I am report this threat to MNHQ and CST.

I have two girls, 4 and 2. I am a genuine poster but the panic about my thread kind of gives me even more pause about all of this. Not sure how to prove I'm a real person with a genuine situation on my hands but, here we are in 2024 I guess.

Appreciate all the tips provided by the community, unfortunately we are set on living in West/Central London so I guess it will be what it will be. Is there another forum in which people feel safer responding? I also posted in Jewish Mums of London Facebook group

It's not scaremongering by any "media" of any sort . You just need to refer to statistics and evidence from police reports.
Jewish people are being targeted, and it's got worse.

@Bellaluna3456

I wonder whether Gabbitas Thring could be of assistance, OP?

https://gabbitas.com/school-search/

I am working with a consultant; that may be the best idea. I was shy to mention it to be honest - in part because I don't want to be pushed toward religious schools.

Meant to reply directly to this. I am a genuine poster, the mother of two daughters, but your panic about my thread kind of gives me even more pause about all of this. Not sure how to prove I'm a real person (nor would I want to divulge personal details to do so) with a genuine situation on my hands but, here we are in 2024 I guess.

Point me to the antisemites if you prefer - that works even better!

4 and 2

As others have said, north and north west London schools will have a higher proportion of Jewish children in non-faith schools. I have a Jewish school at the bottom of my
road but also chose non-faith and I’m glad my children are around a more diverse cohort, but still have plenty of Jewish friends too.

Where you are looking, you’d need to find out local demographics for the exact area you are looking at. Some areas may be highly populated with children from specific faiths, some may be dominated by certain ethnicities, some schools are close to council estates and have high levels of low
income families (if state school) etc. There is nothing wrong with this, before people jump at me. But, when choosing a school for your child, you need to really know the school and area.

OP- pretty much all the preps in Central and West London will be pretty diverse, ethnically, by religion etc. There will be definitely be some Jewish children in most of them.

One of my DCs is at a big West London Independent Secondary school and pupils there have such a mix of nationalities, religions and backgrounds and all respect each other.

Thanks all!!

Gosh I would be pretty disturbed to read this thread being you!

I am admittedly not Jewish (grew up on the westside of LA where 80% of my friends were!), but my daughter went to Bute House and there were a few Jewish girls in her class (that I actually know of) and never was it an issue. West London private schools are incredibly diverse (except for income) and very international and everyone therefore seems very open minded and tolerant of all
Cultures.

I'd be a bit concerned about Channing.
https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/23962752.channing-school-ex-pupils-demand-action-antisemitism/

Agree that the central London preps are very diverse and international. There will be some Jewish children at Lyceum, Charterhouse Square, City Junior (all mixed), Cavendish, Queens College (girls).

Just to echo what many are saying. The advice you've been given about London doesn't track for central London in the independent sector.

The only reason our prep didn't do a whole year trip to Israel was because travel guidance changed. Please talk to families who are actually bringing up kids in the areas you're looking at (you can't ask a family in NW London about central London or West London).

NLCS has a lot of children. My understanding the largest concentration of jews is in Barnet. Perhaps they you can link in with one of the Facebook pages - they may be able to signpost you. Can you link in with a synagogue?

NLCS has lots of Jewish kids.

But to give another perspective, my kids go to a state primary in central/south London and there is maybe one other Jewish kid in the school, most are Christian and Muslim.
Had no antisemitism whatsoever.

This is patently not true. Antisemitism has risen hugely since October 7 and is prevalent.

There will be a couple of Jewish kids in most central west London schools in most years at prep. Likely a few more, but not that many in the west London secondaries. There are Jewish kids at France’s Holland queens college, lots at City and the other schools mentioned.
As a previous poster noted the VAST majority of Jewish children are in Jewish schools which by and large are state schools. It would be perfectly normal for kids from incredibly wealthy families to be in a Jewish school. They’re also generally incredibly good academically

Numbers of Jewish kids in private schools is dropping hugely, mainly for anti Semitism reasons especially in schools where there is strong anti Israel feeling which can really manifest itself strongly. This is possibly less at primarily level

for secondary there’s a strong pull towards “safe” options Habs, North London (buses from central and W London) City, UCS and south Hampstead. Also a not tiny number of central London kids even Kensington / Chelsea / Wimbledon kids tracking down the jubilee line to JFS which is a Jewish state secondary