jpr  / statistical bulletin

Institute for Jewish Policy Research

Numbers of Jewish children in Jewish schools

Statistical bulletin for 2015/16 to 2017/18
Jonathan Boyd / January 2019

Introduction
This bulletin, commissioned by the Board of
Deputies and produced by the Institute for Jewish
Policy Research, contains the most recent data on
Jewish school enrolment in the UK.
It builds on previous studies, notably by the
Institute for Jewish Policy Research (JPR) and the
Board of Deputies of British Jews (2016)1 which
included figures up to the academic year 2014/15,
and the Jewish Leadership Council study (2008),
which included figures up to 2005/06 (mainstream
secondary and strictly Orthodox) and 2006/07
(mainstream primary).2 They, in turn, built on
valuable studies, for example by Braude (1981),3
Hart, Schmool and Cohen (2007)4 and Graham
and Vulkan (2007).5
This new report includes data for three
academic years that have not previously been
published – 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18 –
using schools census data in England gathered
by the Department for Education and for
schools in Scotland gathered by the Scottish
Government. It constitutes part of a joint project
of the Board of Deputies of British Jews and
JPR to ensure that educational policy makers
working within and with the Jewish school
sector have access to data about the numbers
of children enrolled in Jewish schools, both
in order to monitor developments over time,
and to inform thinking about the development
of the field.

1 Staetsky, L. D. and Boyd, J. (2016). The rise and rise of Jewish schools in the United Kingdom: Numbers, trends and policy issues.
London: Institute for Jewish Policy Research and Board of Deputies of British Jews.
2 Commission on Jewish Schools (2008). The Future of Jewish Schools. London: Jewish Leadership Council.
3 Braude, J. (1981). ‘Jewish education in Britain today.’ In: Jewish Life in Britain, 1962–1977 (eds. Lipman, S. and Lipman, V.).
London: Board of Deputies of British Jews.
4 Hart, R., Schmool, M. and Cohen, F. (2007). ‘Jewish day schools in Britain, 1992/3 to 2003/4,’ Contemporary Jewry, 137–155.
5 Graham, D. and Vulkan, D. (2007). Report for the Commission on Jewish Schools. The supply and demand for Jewish day school
places in Britain. London: Board of Deputies of British Jews Community Policy Research Group.
2  Numbers of Jewish children in Jewish schools

Amongst the key findings in this paper are:

•  There were 34,547 Jewish children studying in
Jewish schools in the academic years 2017/18.
•  This represents an increase of 3,633 children
since the last figures were published (for the
academic year 2014/15), or 11.8%.
•  This increase can be observed in both the
mainstream and strictly Orthodox sectors:
the mainstream sector had 1,666 more Jewish
children in 2017/18 compared to 2014/15; the
strictly Orthodox sector had an additional 2,367
children over the same period.
•  58% of Jewish children in Jewish schools are
in strictly Orthodox schools; 42% in non-strictly
Orthodox or ‘mainstream’ Jewish schools.
•  Three quarters of all Jewish children in Jewish
schools are in schools in the Greater London
area or South Hertfordshire.
•  This geographical distinction is more
pronounced in the mainstream sector
(where 85% are in schools in London and the
surrounding area), than in the strictly orthodox
one (where the equivalent figure is 67%).

Key statistics

Data gathered over many years demonstrate that the
number of Jewish pupils enrolled in Jewish schools
has been climbing consistently for several decades.
Numbers have increased particularly dramatically
since the mid-1990s, although the increase prior
to that is arguably more pronounced than it first
appears, as the overall size of Jewish population of
the UK in the second half of the twentieth century
was in a state of decline, falling from an estimated
420,000 in the 1950s to about 290,000 by 2001.
The numbers enrolled since 1995–96 have
increased by an average of about 800 children per
annum across the primary and secondary sectors;
today, the number of pupils is double that found
in the mid-1990s.

Figure 1. Number of Jewish pupils enrolled in Jewish schools in the United Kingdom,
1954–2018 (rounded numbers)

34,500
35,000
32,200

30,000
Number of pupils enrolled

24,700
25,000

20,000 16,700
14,700
15,000 12,700
10,400
10,000
5,200
5,000

0
1954–58* 1965–66 1975–76 1985–86 1995–96 2005–06 2015–16 2017–18
Academic year

* Estimated number at these points in time.

 Numbers of Jewish children in Jewish schools 3

Figure 2. Total enrolment of Jewish pupils in Jewish schools, 1995/96–2017/18

35,000

34,547
33,578
30,000
Number of pupils enrolled

32,195
30,914
27,767
25,000

24,659
24,185
23,650
23,174
22,472
20,000
21,351
20,568
18,664
18,148

15,000
17,213
16,725

10,000

5,000

0
1995/96

1996/97

1997/98

1998/99

1999/00

2000/01

2001/02

2002/03

2003/04

2004/05

2005/06

2010/11

2014/15

2015/16

2016/17

2017/18
Academic year

Note. Data not available for missing years.

Figure 3. Number of Jewish children in Jewish schools in the UK, by sector, 2014/15–2017/18

35,000
34,547
33,579

30,000
Number of pupils enrolled

32,195
30,914

25,000

20,000
19,881
19,121
18,062
17,514

15,000
14,666
14,457
14,133
13,400

10,000

5,000

0
Total Mainstream Jewish Strictly Orthodox Jewish

2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18

The rise shown when figures were last published The rise in recent years has occurred both
(for academic year 2014/15)6 has continued; the within the strictly Orthodox and the mainstream
actual increase over just the three academic years sectors, although the strictly Orthodox shows
that have passed since that time amounts to an a faster rate of growth – on average, 4.3%
extra 3,633 pupils. per annum over these years – compared to

6 See: Staetsky and Boyd (2016), op.cit., pp.26–28. We estimate that approximately half of all strictly Orthodox boys aged 13–15
(i.e. post-bar mitzvah, but pre-conclusion of compulsory schooling) do not appear in official Department for Education statistics.
In the academic year 2017/18, this figure is estimated to amount to about 900.
4  Numbers of Jewish children in Jewish schools

an average of 3.1% p.a. in the mainstream Education figures, as has been demonstrated

sector. The most recent figures (2017/18) reveal in previous studies.7
that there are over 5,000 more Jewish children
enrolled in strictly Orthodox (haredi) schools Geographically, three-quarters of all these children
than mainstream ones. In the mid-1990s, there are in Jewish schools in Greater London and South
were more Jewish children in mainstream Hertfordshire (shown collectively as ‘London’
Jewish schools than strictly Orthodox ones, in Figures 5 and 6). The next most populous area
but parity occurred around 2005, and today, the is the North West – mainly Manchester, but also
split shown in these figures is close to 60–40 in Liverpool – which comprises one-fifth of the
favour of the haredi sector. In fact, the disparity total. The North East region relates exclusively to
is even greater than this, as a significant number Gateshead – one of the key centres of the strictly
of haredi teenagers are known to be studying in Orthodox community. Numbers are revealed to
yeshivot that are not included in Department for have increased in all regions of the country shown.

Figure 4. Compositional change of pupil population in Jewish schools, 1995/96–2017/18

60
56 58
50 55
49 51
40 45 44
Percent

42
30
20
10
0
1995/96 2005/06 2015/16 2017/18
Academic year

Mainstream Strictly Orthodox

Figure 5. Enrolment of Jewish pupils in Jewish schools by geography, 2014/15–2017/18

35,000
34,547
Number of pupils enrolled

33,578

30,000
32,195
30,914

25,000
25,764
25,114
24,086
23,140

20,000

15,000
7,099
6,792
6,517
6,377

10,000
1,051
1,126
1,179
1,187

5,000
493
497
346
466

0
Total London North West North East Other

2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18

7 Ibid., pp.26–28.
 Numbers of Jewish children in Jewish schools 5

Figure 6. Where Jewish children in Jewish Determining precisely how many children are in
schools are, by geographical the primary and secondary sectors is complicated
region, 2017/18 by the fact that many schools, particularly in the
strictly Orthodox sector, cross the line between
3.4% 1.4% the two stages. Furthermore, as previously
London
noted, children enrolled in strictly Orthodox
20.5%
North West yeshivot, all of whom are of secondary school
age (particularly boys aged 13 and over), are not
North East
shown in the figures below. Nevertheless, the
Other numbers show how many children of primary
school age (i.e. 4–11 years, or Reception to Year 6)
74.6% and secondary school age (i.e. 11–18 years, or
Years 7–13) are in official government statistics.

Figure 7. Numbers of Jewish children in Jewish schools by educational stage,

2015/16–2017/18*

35,000
34,547
33,578

30,000
32,195
Number of pupils enrolled

25,000

20,000
21,166
20,766
19,917

15,000

13,382
12,813

10,000
12,279

5,000

0
Total Primary Secondary
Educational stage

2015/16 2016/17 2017/18

* Note that the numbers shown only include those in schools registered in the annual school census. This fails to capture some children in
unregistered yeshivot in the secondary stage age band. Numbers do not sum precisely to totals due to rounding.

Mainstream Jewish sector

Focusing on the mainstream sector specifically, However, geographically, the picture within
the growth seen in recent years continues the this sector is changing. Whereas pupils based
trend seen over the course of the past generation in London schools comprised about 70% of
and beyond. There are over 5,000 more children the total in the mid-1990s, today they comprise
in mainstream Jewish schools today compared 85%. Thus, the London/regional balance is
to the mid-1990s, an increase of close to 60%. clearly shifting over time in favour of London.
6  Numbers of Jewish children in Jewish schools

Figure 8. Enrolment of Jewish pupils in mainstream Jewish schools, 1995/96–2017/18

15,000

14,666
14,457
14,133
Number of pupils enrolled

12,500

13,400
12,750
12,101
11,755
11,523
11,303
11,038
10,000

10,576
10,283
9,852
9,683
9,434
9,258

7,500

5,000

2,500

0
1995/96

1996/97

1997/98

1998/99

1999/00

2000/01

2001/02

2002/03

2003/04

2004/05

2005/06

2010/11

2014/15

2015/16

2016/17

2017/18
Academic year

Note. Data not available for missing years.

Figure 9. Geographical change of pupil population in mainstream Jewish schools,

1995/96–2017/18

100

80 84 85
78
71
60
Percent

40

29
20
22
16 15
0
1995/96 2005/06 2015/16 2017/18
Academic year

London Rest of country

Strictly Orthodox sector

Enrolment in strictly Orthodox schools Orthodox yeshivot, so all figures here should
continues to increase dramatically over time, be regarded as underestimates. We estimate
increasing by 166%, or over 12,000 children, the annual growth rate based on these figures
since the mid-1990s. Moreover, as stated at about 4.2%, which is largely in line with
previously, the figures in this report fail to other data on population growth rates among
capture haredi children in unregistered strictly the strictly Orthodox.8

8 See, for example: Staetsky, L. D. and Boyd, J. (2015). Strictly Orthodox rising. What the demography of British Jews tells us about the
future of the community. London: Institute for Jewish Policy Research.
 Numbers of Jewish children in Jewish schools 7

Figure 10. Enrolment of Jewish pupils in strictly Orthodox Jewish schools, 1995/96–2017/18

20,000

19,881
19,121
17,500
Number of pupils enrolled

18,062
17,514
15,000

15,017
12,500

12,558
12,430
12,127
11,871
10,000

11,434
10,775
10,285

7,500
8,792
8,465
7,779
7,467

5,000

2,500

0
1995/96

1996/97

1997/98

1998/99

1999/00

2000/01

2001/02

2002/03

2003/04

2004/05

2005/06

2010/11

2014/15

2015/16

2016/17

2017/18
Academic year

Note. Data not available for missing years.

Figure 11. Geographical change of pupil population in strictly Orthodox schools,

1995/96–2017/18

100

80

72.4
60 67.4 67.4 67.1
Percent

40

20 25.1 26.3 26.9

18.7
7.5 6.2 6.0
8.8
0
1995/96 2005/06 2015/16 2017/18
Academic year

London Manchester (+ Leeds) Gateshead

In contrast to the situation in the mainstream is seen to be shifting slowly to Manchester,

sector, the proportion of haredi children in schools which today has 27% of all haredi children in
in London compared to elsewhere has been Jewish schools, an increase from the 19% found
declining over time, falling from 72% to 67% in the mid-1990s. Of course, the actual numbers
since the mid-1990s (Figure 10). The balance continue to increase in both places.
8  Numbers of Jewish children in Jewish schools

Figure 12. Numbers of children enrolled in strictly Orthodox schools, by geography

20,000

19,881
19,121
17,500
Number of pupils enrolled

18,062
17,514

15,000

12,500

13,340
12,871
12,180
11,803
10,000

7,500

5,000

5,354
5,071

1,126

1,179

1,187
1,051
4,756
4,660
2,500

0
Total London Manchester (+ Leeds) Gateshead
City

2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18

Methodological notes

The previously unpublished data contained students enrolled in Jewish schools. Schools

within this report (for academic years 2015/16, captured in these new data are listed below;
2016/17 and 2017/18) are primarily drawn from note that some of the schools shown were
the statistics on pupils in England as collected only operational for one or two of the academic
in the relevant school censuses conducted by years 2015/16, 2016/17, and 2017/18. Historical
the Department for Education, and in Scotland data come from previous reports on enrolment
by the Scottish Government. Numbers have in Jewish schools, most notably Staetsky and
been adjusted to account for non-Jewish Boyd (2016) (see footnote 1).

Name of School Local Authority Sector

Ahavas Torah Boys Academy Salford Strictly Orthodox

Aim Habonim Salford Strictly Orthodox
Akiva School Barnet Mainstream
Alma Primary Barnet Mainstream
Ateres Girls High School Gateshead Strictly Orthodox
Avigdor Hirsch Torah Temimah Primary School Brent Strictly Orthodox
Beis Aharon School Hackney Strictly Orthodox
Beis Chinuch Lebonos Girls School Hackney Strictly Orthodox
Beis Hatalmud School Salford Strictly Orthodox
Beis Malka Belz Girls School Salford Strictly Orthodox
Beis Malka Girls’ School Hackney Strictly Orthodox
Beis Medrash Elyon Barnet Strictly Orthodox
Beis Rochel d’Satmar Girls’ School Hackney Strictly Orthodox
Beis Ruchel D’Satmar London Hackney Strictly Orthodox
 Numbers of Jewish children in Jewish schools 9

Name of School Local Authority Sector

Beis Ruchel Girls School Manchester Strictly Orthodox

Beis Ruchel Girls School Salford Strictly Orthodox
Beis Soroh Schneirer Barnet Strictly Orthodox
Beis Trana Girls’ School Hackney Strictly Orthodox
Beis Yaakov Girls School Hackney Strictly Orthodox
Beis Yaakov High School Salford Strictly Orthodox
Beis Yaakov Primary School Barnet Strictly Orthodox
Beit Shvidler Primary School Barnet Mainstream
Beth Jacob Grammar School for Girls Barnet Strictly Orthodox
Bnei Zion Community School Hackney Strictly Orthodox
Bnois Jerusalem Girls School Hackney Strictly Orthodox
Bnos Beis Yaakov Primary School Brent Strictly Orthodox
Bnos Yisroel School Manchester Salford Strictly Orthodox
Bnos Zion of Bobov Hackney Strictly Orthodox
Brodetsky Primary School Leeds Mainstream
Broughton Jewish Cassel Fox Primary School Salford Strictly Orthodox
Bury and Whitefield Jewish Primary School Bury Mainstream
Calderwood Lodge East Renfrewshire Mainstream
Clore Shalom School Hertfordshire Mainstream
Clore Tikva School Redbridge Mainstream
Eden Primary Haringey Mainstream
Edgware Jewish Girls – Beis Chinuch Barnet Strictly Orthodox
Etz Chaim Boys School Manchester Strictly Orthodox
Etz Chaim Jewish Primary School Barnet Mainstream
Gateshead Jewish Boarding School Gateshead Strictly Orthodox
Gateshead Jewish High School for Girls Gateshead Strictly Orthodox
Gateshead Jewish Nursery School Gateshead Strictly Orthodox
Gateshead Jewish Primary School Gateshead Strictly Orthodox
Getters Talmud Torah Hackney Strictly Orthodox
Haskel School Gateshead Strictly Orthodox
Hasmonean High School Barnet Mainstream
Hasmonean Primary School Barnet Mainstream
Hertsmere Jewish Primary School Hertfordshire Mainstream
Immanuel College Hertfordshire Mainstream
Independent Jewish Day School Barnet Mainstream
JCoSS Barnet Mainstream
JFS Brent Mainstream
Kantor King Solomon High School Redbridge Mainstream
Kerem School Barnet Mainstream
Kerem Shloime Salford Strictly Orthodox
King David High School Liverpool Mainstream
King David Junior and Infant School Birmingham Mainstream
King David Primary School Liverpool Mainstream
King David Primary School Manchester Mainstream
10  Numbers of Jewish children in Jewish schools

Name of School Local Authority Sector

Kisharon School Barnet Mainstream

Leeds Jewish Free School Leeds Mainstream
Leeds Menorah School Leeds Strictly Orthodox
Lubavitch House School (Senior Girls) Hackney Strictly Orthodox
Lubavitch Junior Boys Hackney Strictly Orthodox
Lubavitch Ruth Lunzer Girls Primary School Hackney Strictly Orthodox
Lubavitch Senior Boys’ School Hackney Strictly Orthodox
Lubavitch Yeshiva Ketanah of London Barnet Strictly Orthodox
Manchester Jewish School for Special Education Manchester Strictly Orthodox
Manchester Junior Girls’ School Salford Strictly Orthodox
Manchester Mesivta School Bury Strictly Orthodox
Mathilda Marks-Kennedy Jewish Primary School Barnet Mainstream
Mechinoh School Salford Strictly Orthodox
Menorah Foundation School Barnet Strictly Orthodox
Menorah Grammar School Barnet Strictly Orthodox
Menorah High School for Girls Barnet Strictly Orthodox
Menorah Primary School Barnet Strictly Orthodox
Mosaic Jewish Primary School Wandsworth Mainstream
Naima Jewish Preparatory School Westminster Mainstream
Nancy Reuben Primary School Barnet Strictly Orthodox
North Cheshire Jewish Primary School Stockport Mainstream
North West London Jewish Day School Brent Mainstream
Oholei Yosef Yitzchok Lubavitch Schools Salford Strictly Orthodox
Pardes House Grammar School Barnet Strictly Orthodox
Pardes House Primary School Barnet Strictly Orthodox
Peninim Barnet Strictly Orthodox
Rimon Jewish Primary School Barnet Mainstream
Rosh Pinah Primary School Barnet Mainstream
Sacks Morasha Jewish Primary School Barnet Mainstream
Side By Side School Hackney Strictly Orthodox
Simon Marks Jewish Primary School Hackney Mainstream
Sinai Jewish Primary School Brent Mainstream
Talmud Torah Bobov Primary School Hackney Strictly Orthodox
Talmud Torah Chaim Meirim Wiznitz School Hackney Strictly Orthodox
Talmud Torah Chinuch Norim School Salford Strictly Orthodox
Talmud Torah London Hackney Strictly Orthodox
Talmud Torah Machzikei Hadass School Hackney Strictly Orthodox
Talmud Torah Tiferes Shlomoh Barnet Strictly Orthodox
Talmud Torah Toldos Yakov Yosef School Hackney Strictly Orthodox
Talmud Torah Yetev Lev Hackney Strictly Orthodox
Talmud Torah Yetev Lev Salford Strictly Orthodox
Tashbar of Edgware Barnet Strictly Orthodox
Tashbar of Manchester Salford Strictly Orthodox
The Gateshead Cheder Primary School Gateshead Strictly Orthodox
 Numbers of Jewish children in Jewish schools 11

Name of School Local Authority Sector

The King David High School Manchester Mainstream

The Moriah Jewish Day School Harrow Mainstream
The Noam Primary School Brent Mainstream
Tiferes Salford Strictly Orthodox
Tiferes High School Barnet Strictly Orthodox
Torah Vodaas Barnet Strictly Orthodox
Toras Emes Salford Strictly Orthodox
TTD Gur School Hackney Strictly Orthodox
Vishnitz Girls School Hackney Strictly Orthodox
Wiznitz Cheder School Hackney Strictly Orthodox
Wohl Ilford Jewish Primary School Redbridge Mainstream
Wolfson Hillel Primary School Enfield Mainstream
Yavneh College Hertfordshire Mainstream
Yavneh Primary School Hertfordshire Mainstream
Yeshiva Lezeirim Preparatory Academy Gateshead Strictly Orthodox
Yeshivah Ohr Torah School Salford Strictly Orthodox
Yesodey Hatorah School Hackney Strictly Orthodox
Yesodey Hatorah Senior Girls School Hackney Strictly Orthodox
Yesoiday Hatorah School Bury Strictly Orthodox
 The Institute for Jewish Policy Research is a London-based research organisation,
consultancy and think-tank. It aims to advance the prospects of Jewish communities in
the United Kingdom and across Europe by conducting research and informing policy
development in dialogue with those best-placed to positively influence Jewish life.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews is the voice of British Jewry – the only organisation
based on cross-communal, democratic, grassroots representation. It is the first port of
call for Government, media and others seeking to understand the Jewish community’s
interests and concerns.

Author

Dr Jonathan Boyd is Executive Director of JPR. A specialist in the study of contemporary

Jewry, he is a former Jerusalem Fellow at the Mandel Institute in Israel, and has held
professional positions in research and policy at the JDC International Centre for Community
Development, the Jewish Agency for Israel, the United Jewish Israel Appeal and the
Holocaust Educational Trust. He holds a doctorate in education from the University of
Nottingham, and an MA and BA in modern Jewish history from University College London.
He is the author of numerous reports on British and European Jewish life, a Board member
of the Association for the Social Scientific Study of Jewry, and a columnist for
the Jewish Chronicle.

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