In 1992 there were 57 Jewish schools and 39 nurseries offering full-time education. But by 1999 there were 92 primary and secondary schools and 43 nurseries, while the number of pupils had risen from around 14,660 to 22,640.

A new study by the Board of Deputies of British Jews reveals that much of this growth occurred in the smallest sector of British Jewry, the strictly orthodox, which has the highest birth rate. How-ever, other parts of the 333,000-strong Jewish community have also expanded their education provision. The proportion from the mainstream orthodox and progressive sectors enrolled in Jewish schools grew by 12 per cent, despite a 13 per cent decline in overall pupil numbers from 1992 to 1999.

With intermarriage between Jews and non-Jews on the increase and a shift towards more relaxed religious observance, the study highlights a contrast between the religious attitudes of Jewish parents and their growing enthusiasm for faith schools.

“The weakening of identities, the loss of communal affiliation, and the decline in religious practices among the young generation of parents may have urged these parents to search for new ways of maintaining their children’s identities and ensuring they acquire the basic knowledge and understanding of their heritage,” say the researchers who conducted the study. Trends in the wider community are also accelerating the expansion of Jewish education. In particular, multicultural ideology and state funding for faith schools led to the number of voluntary-aided Jewish schools increasing from 22 in 1992 to 34 by 1999.

Above-average examination results are another reason for the growing demand for places in Jewish schools, the researchers say. “Choosing a Jewish school may signify, for many parents, a ‘good choice’ in educational and mobility terms rather than a concern for Jewish matters,” they conclude.

“The position of Jewish education in Britain” by Rona Hart, Marlena Schmool and Frances Cohen of the Board of Deputies of British Jews.

Anat Arkin