Michael Sobell Sinai School

Sinai Jewish Primary School

The most vibrant Jewish School in London
Native name Sinai School
Type Voluntary Aided Primary School
Religion Jewish
Headteacher Robert Leach
Director of Jewish Studies Rabbi Nicky Goldmeier
Deputy Headteacher Juliette Lipshaw
Chairman of Governors Lee Glassar
Location Shakespeare Drive
Kenton
Brent
England
Coordinates: 51°34′46″N 0°16′56″W / 51.5795°N 0.2821°W / 51.5795; -0.2821
Local authority London Borough of Brent
DfE URN 101549 Tables
Ofsted Reports
Staff 154
Capacity 690
Gender Mixed
Ages 3–11
Website www.sinaischool.com

Sinai Jewish Primary School is a large three form entry voluntary aided modern orthodox Jewish primary school, under the auspices of the United Synagogue and is situated in Kenton in the London Borough of Brent. It is a co-educational primary school for up to 690 children aged 3–11. The school includes a nursery. It is the largest Jewish primary school in Europe.[1] In addition to the name Michael Sobell Sinai School, the school is widely known and colloquially referred to as Sinai School.

History

The Michael Sobell Sinai School started life as the Bayswater Jewish School, founded by members of the Bayswater Synagogue for the children of “poorer brethren”. Originally based at St James’s Terrace, Harrow Road, the school opened its doors in 1866 at 1 Westbourne Park Villas. Eleven years later it moved to a new building in Harrow Road in 1879, and by the year 1903 it had accommodation large enough for and educated 419 pupils.

In 1902, 222 of its pupils took part in the Paddington Children’s Coronation Procession. In 1930, the school moved to Lancaster Road and changed its name to Kensington Bayswater Jewish School, which later became Solomon Wolfson.

The new Michael Sobell Sinai School (MSSS) opened in September 1981 with the pupils and staff coming from Solomon Wolfson and Yavneh schools to form the new nucleus of the school.[2] There was far too little space to serve the pupils and staff of the already expanding school, and so the first ten-year plan was developed, and the school started to grow, with a new music room and computer suite, a dedicated learning block for Years Five and Six, a gymnasium, and a purpose-built block housing the school's nursery and reception classes.

With the appointment in April 1996 of Mrs Vivienne Orloff as Headteacher and Joanna Walker as Deputy Headteacher in 1997, the school grew into the largest Jewish primary school in Europe. After leading the school for over 15 years, in December 2011 Mrs Vivienne Orloff retired.

In 2005, the Michael Sobell Sinai school was chosen for one of the first national "short Ofsted inspections", for which only the top schools were chosen.

On 25 September 2008, Michael Sobell Sinai School pupils interviewed the NASA astronaut Gregory Chamitoff through a live satellite link up while he was aboard the Space Shuttle. The event made national news.[3] In April 2012 Robert Leach became the incumbent headteacher.

Ofsted

In January 2015, the school was inspected by Ofsted. The school was judged as Good in all five areas. The report[4] states that this is a good school because;

The school was also commended by Sir Michael Wilshaw, head of Ofsted for its work with children from different ethnic and religious backgrounds. "Schools like Sinai Jewish Primary School in Brent, where inspectors found that pupils are “proud to be Jewish” but also “enjoy working with pupils from different ethnic and religious backgrounds”.[5]

The school was previously inspected in March 2010, and was also graded as a Good school. The inspection report states that "This is a good school. The pupils enjoy school, feel safe and make a good contribution to the community. They are polite and effectively embrace the school's ethos of welcoming new pupils and visitors to the school".[6]

Pikuach

This inspection of the school was carried out under section 48 of the Education Act 2005 and in March 2010. The main findings of the report stated that "The quality of Jewish education at Michael Sobell Sinai School is good overall" and in the Early Years Foundation Stage, it is outstanding. Pupils are happy and they work hard. Parents are pleased with the school as evidenced from the parents’ questionnaires which were overwhelmingly positive."[7] The report continues "Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage make outstanding progress. This is due to the outstanding quality of provision that ensures that they learn well both socially and academically in a safe and secure learning environment".[8]

Results

Sinai continues to produce high-level test results, and the majority of students achieve above-average levels in SATs.[9] In 2013, the students earned a KS2 Average Point Score of 30.3, putting them on the higher end of all schools.[10]

In 2013, the school came seventh in the Primary League Tables in Brent for its percentage of high-achieving pupils.[11]

In 2013:

Progress Data shows that in 2013, 100% of pupils achieved expected progress in writing. This is an increase of five percentage points since 2012.[14]

Facilities

The school opened its doors on its current campus, which is located alongside JFS in September 1981. The school has expanded and now has three buildings for its pupils, including a separate Early Years Foundation Stage block, a full-size gymnasium and a Upper Key Stage 2 block. The school has undergone an intensive refurbishment programme in recent years and now has a dedicated art room, IT Hub and Computing Room, film studio and a large multiuse games area.

History of heads and deputies of the school

1981

1990

1996 -

2012 -

2014 -

References

  1. ↑ "Michael Sobell Sinai Primary School Inspection report" (PDF). Ofsted. 8–9 March 2010.
  2. ↑ Rubinstein, William D (22 Feb 2011). The Palgrave Dictionary of Anglo-Jewish History. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 1088 pages.
  3. ↑ Gould, Mark (25 September 2008). "The day a starman came to school". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
  4. ↑ Ofsted Inspection Report 201-21 January 2015
  5. ↑ The Independent http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/its-ludicrous-to-accuse-inspectors-of-a-witchhunt-against-faith-schools-10027440.html. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. ↑ "Michael Sobell Sinai Primary School Inspection report" (PDF). OFSTED.
  7. ↑ "Pikuach Inspection report of Michael Sobell Sinai" (PDF). Board of Deputies. 2010.
  8. ↑ "Pikuach Inspection report of Michael Sobell Sinai" (PDF). Board of Deputies. 2010.
  9. ↑ "Find the Best: Primary schools".
  10. ↑ "Find the Best: Primary schools".
  11. ↑ "Primary school league tables in Brent".
  12. ↑ "Ofsted Data Dashboard".
  13. ↑ "Ofsted Data Dashboard".
  14. ↑ "Ofsted Data Dashboard".

External links

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