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'{{Primary sources|date=January 2015}} {{Infobox UK school | name = Hasmonean High School | image = HasmoLogo.jpg | coordinates = {{coord|51.5963|-0.2143|type:edu_region:GB_dim:100|format=dec|display=inline,title}} | motto = אל תקרי בניך אלא בוניך - ("Don't call them your children, rather your builders") | established = 1944 | type = [[Academy (English school)|Academy]] | religion = Jewish | head = Mr Andrew McClusky (Exec.), Mrs Debbie Lebrett (Boys), Mrs Rachel Fink (Girls) | street = Holders Hill Road | city = [[Hendon]] | county = [[London]] | country = England, UK | enrollment = 1016 | ofsted = yes | urn = 137539 | dfeno = 302/5409 | gender = Boys and girls on separate sites | lower_age = 11 | upper_age = 18 | publication = | website = http://www.hasmonean.co.uk/ | website_name = HHS }} '''Hasmonean High School''' is a [[secondary school]] and [[sixth form]] with [[Academy (English school)|academy status]] for pupils from [[Orthodox Jewish]] families, situated in the [[London Borough of Barnet]], England. ==History== The school was founded by the late [[Solomon Schonfeld|Rabbi Dr. Solomon Schonfeld]] <ref>[http://www.hasmonean.co.uk/about-us/hasmonean-history/], Dr. Schonfeld's Work in Hasmonean</ref> in 1944 as Hasmonean Grammar School. Rabbi Dr. Schonfeld (1912-1984) rescued thousands of Jews from the [[Holocaust]] and pioneered Jewish day school education in England. <!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[Image:hhs historic.jpg|right|thumb|200px|An early photograph of the boys' site on Holders Hill Road. The school is still located on the same site, and the old building remains part of the school. Over the years, however, numerous additions and modifications have been made.]] --> Dr. Schonfeld saw the need for an Orthodox Jewish school in North West London, which, despite having high numbers of Orthodox Jews, did not have a religious school to cater for them. Many Jews had reached Great Britain from different parts of [[Nazism|Nazi]]-occupied Europe, most of them settling in London. Since Orthodox Judaism places great emphasis on the upbringing of children, the need subsequently arose for a school where the children could be educated in an Orthodox Jewish environment. Jewish law discourages mingling of the sexes when possible, especially when they are unmarried, so two separate schools needed to be set up, one for boys and one for girls. The boys’ school became a [[voluntary aided]] Local Authority School in 1957. In September 1975, the girls moved to the present purpose-built Page Street site in [[Mill Hill]]. In 1984, voluntary aided status was extended to the girls' school, and the two sections joined as one to become a five-form-entry School. In April 1994, the school became [[Grant-maintained school|grant maintained]], but returned to Voluntary Aided Status in September 1999, following the abolition of grant-maintained schools. In March 2008 Hasmonean was singled out as one of the faith schools in the news for its procedure of demanding contributions from parents as a condition of entry. The school converted to academy status in October 2011. The school has established a Beis Hamedrash programme for Fifth and Sixth Form boys (Years 11-13) and a Midrasha programme for sixth form girls. ===Executive Headteachers=== * Mr. Martin Clark 2005-2007 (currently senior director at GEMS Educational Ventures, [[Dubai]] since 2007) * Mr. David Fuller 2007-2009 (Marked Fuller's 94th term in school educating, he resumed to be Director of Schools until 2010) * Rabbi D. Meyer 2009-2015 (Rabbi David Meyer is the Executive Director of PaJeS- Partnerships for Jewish Schools) * Mr. Andrew McClusky 2015- ==Location== Originally, the school was situated in The Drive in [[Golders Green]] until 1947. In that year, the boys' school moved to Holders Hill Road, where it has remained until the present day. Until 1975, the girls' school was accommodated in a two large houses in Parson Street, [[Hendon]], when it was relocated to Page Street. ==Transport== As of September 2011, the [[London Buses route 240|bus route 240]] serves the boys site of the school, with access to Golders Green, Edgware and Mill Hill Broadway Stations for all students. At Mill Hill Broadway there is access to the [[London Buses route 221|221 Bus]], [[London Buses route 113|113 Bus]], [[London Buses route 251|251 Bus]]. The closest underground station is [[Mill Hill East tube station|Mill Hill East]]. ==Objectives== The school has five primary objectives: [1] To provide a sound all-round education, so that pupils will be inspired to raise their level of Jewish knowledge and commitment as well as achieving the qualifications necessary for the career of their choice. [2] To promote the practical application of Jewish values and traditions. [3] To care for all pupils and to encourage them to realize their potential and to achieve success. [4] To encourage and support the personality, development and moral values of the pupils, so that they may develop a positive self-image and the ability to cope with change within themselves and within society. [5] To promote, including by means of extracurricular activities, the character training necessary to enable the pupils to become committed and caring members of the School community and of the wider community. ==Governing body== Soon after its opening, the school became part of the blossoming Jewish Secondary Schools Movement (JSSM). Under the terms of the JSSM scheme, the [[trustees]] of the school must be appointed by the [[rabbis]] of certain [[synagogues]], namely, the Adath Yisroel, the Golders Green Beth Hamedrash Congregation and the Hendon Adath Yisroel. The trustees in turn appoint the Foundation Governors, who together with the [[Headteacher]], two LEA appointed Governors, three parent-elected Governors, two teacher-elected Governors and the Staff Governor form the Governing Body.<ref>[http://www.hasmonean.co.uk/about-us/governing-body/], Current Governing Body.</ref> ==Academic results== Hasmonean has been commended by SSAT for being in the top 10% of non-selective schools according to the number of students gaining 5 or more A8 – A grades. Due to an inspection in 2012, Hasmonean is rated 'Outstanding' in all categories by Ofsted. The school has also been commended for the progress students make between Key Stage 2 and 4, with some subjects being in the top 1% and all being in the top 4% of all schools. The school has produced students with outstanding GCSE results, similar to a grammar school. At A-level, it is also outstanding, in the top three of non-grammar schools in Barnet Local Authority. ==Future== [[File:Hasmonean_Future_Building_Proposals.jpg|thumb|right|Hasmonean Future Building Proposals]] In recent months, Hasmonean has proposed moving both the boys’ and girls’ campuses onto one secured site. <ref>[http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/153046/hasmonean-boys-school-considering-a-move], JC News Article.</ref> <ref>[http://www.newhomeforhasmonean.co.uk/index.html], Future Website.</ref> <ref>[http://www.newhomeforhasmonean.co.uk/links/Hasmonean%20School%20Banners%20x7.pdf], Future Proposals</ref> Each campus would sit on its own site and have separate entrances, facilities and play areas. The land identified at this stage is the land next to, and including, the current girls’ campus on Page Street. Each campus would also have its own security team. Hasmonean High school currently has two campuses, a boys’ campus and girls’ campus, which are over a mile apart. The two campuses share leadership teams and teaching staff, but in accordance with Hasmonean’s ethos, the educational accommodation, external spaces and play areas are separate. == Controversies == The school has endured few if any notable controversies. === Two former teachers jailed === Two former Hasmonean teachers have been jailed for child sex offences.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/teacher-at-prestigious-school-jailed-157177/|title=Teacher at prestigious school jailed for sex with pupil|work=Kent Online|access-date=2018-05-18|language=en-GB}}</ref> They are Chris Hoile who was jailed for two years after engaging in sexual activity with a 17-year-old girl<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/teacher-jaileda-foraa-sex-pupil-17/|title=Former Hasmonean teacher jailed for sex with a pupil, 17|work=Jewish News|access-date=2018-05-18|language=en-US}}</ref> and Subir Chakravarty who was jailed for 10 years after being convicted of raping a 14 -year-old girl<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/ex-hasmo-teacher-jailed-1.429309|title=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/ex-hasmo-teacher-jailed-1.429309|website=www.thejc.com|access-date=2018-05-18}}</ref>. === Unlawful admissions policy === The school's stringent religious admissions arrangements which, at one point required parents to offer details of their adherence to ritual Jewish sex laws have also come under fire.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/10/14/jewish-school-told-to-stop-asking-parents-about-their-sex-lives_n_8291744.html|title=Jewish High School Told To 'Stop Asking Parents About Their Sex Lives'|date=2015-10-14|work=HuffPost UK|access-date=2018-05-18|language=en-GB}}</ref> Rabbi Dr [[Jonathan Romain]], the chair of the Accord Coalition, said the case involving Hasmonean was “astonishing” and claimed “it [Hasmonean] is asking very intrusive personal questions that have nothing to do with the child and his right for an education at a state-funded school. <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/11931494/Jewish-school-ordered-to-stop-asking-parents-about-their-sex-life.html|title=Jewish school ordered to stop asking parents about their sex life|last=Espinoza|first=Javier|date=2015-10-14|access-date=2018-05-18|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}</ref> === Alleged [[homophobia]] === The school has been accused of failing to properly cater for [[LGBT|LGBTQ]]+ students with PSHE polices that some have described as discriminatory. The school's SRE education was reported to have make references to the “destruction of Sodom” and “the chapters in Leviticus dealing with Relationships”<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/05/01/faith-schools-exposed-over-policies-banning-promotion-of-homosexuality/|title=Faith schools exposed over policies banning 'promotion' of homosexuality|work=PinkNews|access-date=2018-05-18|language=en-US}}</ref>, both of which are teachings that suggest homosexual acts are immoral and punishable by death. === Discipline issues === The school is known to have had numerous discipline issues with its students. In 2012 Sixth form students pelted staff and students with eggs as part of '[[Senior prank|muck up day]]', video of the aftermath of the incident was placed online<ref>{{Citation|last=Josh Isaac|title=Hasmo MUD 12'|date=2012-05-13|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kb4EXk7QWl0|accessdate=2018-05-18}}</ref>. An online video guide advising students on how best to escape from the school has over seven thousand views<ref>{{Citation|last=goodgirlamy69|title=Getting Out Of Hasmo|date=2007-05-09|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c75XXxXnuaU|accessdate=2018-05-18}}</ref>. === Other incidents === The school also faced questions over its safeguarding procedures when online video surfaced showing a member of staff aggressively grabbing and manhandling a student.<ref>{{Citation|last=mendel bouznah|title=Teacher goes mad|date=2017-04-28|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6uPQmC_CbE|accessdate=2018-05-18}}</ref> ==Notable former pupils== * Simon Corney, owner [[Oldham Athletic]] * [[Alan Howard (hedge fund manager)]], Hedge Fund Manager * [[Dina Rabinovitch]], journalist ===Hasmonean Grammar School=== * His Honour Judge [[Nigel Peters]] [[Queen's Counsel|QC]] * [[Samson Abramsky]] * [[David Landau (journalist)]] * [[Norman Lebrecht]], writer and broadcaster * [[Edward Mirzoeff]], BBC producer * Prof [[David Newman (political geographer)|David Newman]], Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Ben-Gurion University in Israel. * Rabbi Daniel Fine, Former Head Boy (Rabbi) ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.hasmonean.co.uk Official Website] * [http://www.newhomeforhasmonean.co.uk Future] * [http://hasmoneanconnect.com/ Alumni Website] * [http://www.edubase.gov.uk/establishment/summary.xhtml?urn=101366 EduBase]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} * [http://www.education.gov.uk/cgi-bin/performancetables/school_10.pl?No=3025409&Type=LA&Begin=c1&Num=302&Phase=1&Year=10&Base=c Department of Education performance tables] * [http://melchettmike.wordpress.com/category/hasmo-legends/ "Hasmo Legends", melchett mike blog] {{Schools and colleges in Barnet}} [[Category:Educational institutions established in 1944]] [[Category:Orthodox Jewish educational institutions]] [[Category:Orthodox Judaism in London]] [[Category:Academies in the London Borough of Barnet]] [[Category:Jewish schools in England]] [[Category:Secondary schools in the London Borough of Barnet]] [[Category:1944 establishments in England]] [[Category:Hendon]]'