Eden Primary School, Muswell Hill Explained

Eden Primary School
Established:2011
Type:Free school
Religious Affiliation:Jewish
Head Label:Head Teacher
Head:Helen Graff
Address:79 Creighton Avenue
Location:Muswell Hill
City:London
Country:England
Postcode:N10 1NR
Local Authority:Haringey
Ofsted:yes
Urn:136808
Enrolment:205
Gender:Coeducational
Lower Age:4
Upper Age:11
Website:http://www.edenprimary.org.uk/

Eden Primary School is a cross-communal Jewish Primary school or Jewish day school in Muswell Hill, in the borough of Haringey, North London, UK, catering for children aged 4 to 11.

It is distinctive for actively welcoming children irrespective of their religious background.[1] It opened in September 2011.[2] Eden Primary is the first Primary Free School to be commissioned by the UK Government under the free school programme.[3] Of those initial Free Schools whose costs were released by the UK Government, it received the largest amount of investment, at £6.2 million

The school's original working name was 'Haringey Jewish Primary School', but the permanent name of Eden was adopted in order to convey the school's ethos more clearly.[4] Eden is a small, single-form-entry school, admitting 30 children into Reception each year. The school's founding headteacher was Jo Sassienie. Its first year was spent in temporary accommodation,[5] and it moved to permanent premises in September 2012. The cost of construction was budgeted and delivered at £2.6 million.[6] 323 applications to open Free Schools were received by the Department for Education in the first year of operation, out of which 24 schools opened in 2011.[7]

Admissions Policy: like all faith-based Free Schools Eden admits 50% of places on the basis of proximity, not faith. The other 50% of places are offered on the basis of Jewish practice.[8] As with other state-maintained schools, the admissions process is run by the Local Education Authority.

Eden Primary's building received planning permission on 13 September 2011. It was erected between September 2011 and September 2012 by Rydon Construction. It is a cedar-clad construction, designed to emphasize the school's interest in nature.

The school provides both a general and a Jewish education, and also teaches Modern Hebrew as a spoken language. Jewish Studies and Hebrew make up approximately 17% of the total curriculum time.[9]

The school's headteacher is Helen Graff. The Chair of Trustees is Steve Miller.

External links

Notes and References

  1. 11 October 2012 . The Report - Free Schools . mp3 . .
  2. Web site: Education . Free schools: now the really hard work begins . Telegraph . 3 October 2013.
  3. Web site: BBC News - Free schools with funding named . Bbc.co.uk . 10 June 2011 . 3 October 2013.
  4. Web site: Anna Davis, Education Correspondent . Primary gets go-ahead to be fourth London free school - News - London Evening Standard . Standard.co.uk . 23 February 2011 . 3 October 2013.
  5. Web site: Muswell Hill's first free school given planning permission - News - Broadway - Hampstead and Highgate Express . Hamhighbroadway.co.uk . 14 September 2011 . 3 October 2013 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131005011443/http://www.hamhighbroadway.co.uk/news/muswell_hill_s_first_free_school_given_planning_permission_1_1022144 . 5 October 2013 .
  6. Web site: New Eden premises are heavenly for pupils | The Jewish Chronicle . Thejc.com . 14 September 2012 . 3 October 2013.
  7. Web site: PA . Go-ahead given for eight new free schools - Education News - Education . The Independent . 10 June 2011 . 3 October 2013.
  8. Web site: edenprimary.org.uk . edenprimary.org.uk . 3 October 2013.
  9. Web site: You Don't Have to be Jewish... - Eden Primary . 3 October 2013.