Founded in 1732, JFS is Europe’s largest and oldest Jewish school, educating over 2,090 students. For nearly 300 years, we have served as a cornerstone of British Jewish life, empowering thousands of students with the skills, knowledge and values needed for lifelong success. By exploring a partnership with JFS, you are supporting an institution that serves as the cornerstone for the future British Jewish generation.
The JFS Difference
Recently named the Sunday Times “State Faith Secondary School of the Year”, JFS ranks as the top fully non-selective comprehensive state school in London and in the top 5% of all schools nationally. The excellence JFS delivers is not accidental; it is the result of a deliberate, strategic financial investment well above state funding, which only covers the baseline expected of any comprehensive school. To deliver an exceptional education, our community deliberately invests an additional £3 million every year — 20% above state funding.
State funding cannot afford premium teaching staff. The £3m allows us to employ over 30 expert Lead Practitioners who deliver an additional 500+ specialist-led lessons every week. This expertise directly drives our exceptional results: a 62% Grade 9–7 GCSE rate (nearly triple the national average of 22%) and Russell Group university placements at three times the national rate.
Standard funding only covers basic, statutory safeguarding. The £3m pays for our dedicated team of full-time counsellors and welfare officers who manage 500 proactive mental health and wellbeing interventions every month.
State funding only supports students with severe, statutory education, health and care plans. Our investment pays for bespoke SEND interventions for over 300 students with dyslexia, ADHD and dyscalculia who would otherwise struggle in mainstream classes.
The state funds Religious Education as an exam subject. The £3m funds the lived experience — the immersive Jewish curriculum, the Chesed (charity) hub, the daily Minyanim, and the essential identity-building trips to Israel and Poland.
Our partnership with you
We are able to deliver the JFS Difference entirely because of our partnership with our parents and families. In order to support the school, we have several giving tiers:
Relying solely on government funding means we accept the standard comprehensive model. At this level, we get nothing extra — just what any regular state school receives. Without the community’s partnership, we cannot fund our extra teachers, pastoral care, SEND provision or Jewish life programmes.
This contribution simply maintains the level of education we provide today. It covers the current £3m investment that pays for our existing Lead Practitioners, pastoral team and Jewish life. It keeps the school running at its current standard, but it does not allow us to grow, reduce class sizes or advance.
This is the tier that unlocks true excellence. Contributions at this level allow us to make a strategic investment in additional subject specialist teachers. This crucial funding reduces class sizes, deepens academic expertise, and ensures high-quality, personalised instruction for every single student.
This is our ultimate vision fund. Rallying to this top tier equips our children for the future of tomorrow. It funds the transformative projects in the run-up to our 300th anniversary in 2032 — including the AI & Robotics Lab, the Leadership Academy, and modernised facilities ensuring our students step into the world as highly prepared leaders.
More information
For more information about our Parental Contributions, please email morethan@jfs.brent.sch.uk or download our FAQ document.
Ready to contribute?
Setting up your parental contribution only takes a few minutes — and every contribution helps us deliver the JFS Difference for every student.