Eden Primary School, Muswell Hill
It is distinctive for actively welcoming children irrespective of their religious background. It opened in September 2011. Eden Primary is the first Primary Free School to be commissioned by the UK Government under the free school programme. 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. 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, and it moved to permanent premises in September 2012. The cost of construction was budgeted and delivered at £2.6 million.. 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.
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. 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.
The school's headteacher is Helen Graff. The Chair of Trustees is Steve Miller.
References
- ^ The Report - Free Schools (mp3). BBC Radio 4. 11 October 2012.
- ^ Education. "Free schools: now the really hard work begins". Telegraph. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
- ^ "BBC News - Free schools with funding named". Bbc.co.uk. 10 June 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
- ^ Anna Davis, Education Correspondent (23 February 2011). "Primary gets go-ahead to be fourth London free school - News - London Evening Standard". Standard.co.uk. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ "Muswell Hill's first free school given planning permission - News - Broadway - Hampstead and Highgate Express". Hamhighbroadway.co.uk. 14 September 2011. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
- ^ "New Eden premises are heavenly for pupils | The Jewish Chronicle". Thejc.com. 14 September 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
- ^ PA (10 June 2011). "Go-ahead given for eight new free schools - Education News - Education". The Independent. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
- ^ "edenprimary.org.uk". edenprimary.org.uk. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
- ^ "You Don't Have to be Jewish... - Eden Primary". Retrieved 3 October 2013.
