(JTA) — The Jewish community of Leeds, Britain’s third largest, is preparing to open its first high school next year.
A site in northern part of the city is being considered for the institution, which would eventually serve 175 pupils.
Jewish families in Leeds who want to give their children a faith-based secondary education currently have to send them to Manchester on a 90-mile daily round trip, according to a recent report in the Yorkshire Evening Post. The city has an estimated Jewish population of 10,000.
The newspaper quoted Dan Cohen, a city council member, as saying that “while the community is well-served by synagogues, an excellent primary school, kosher shop and even a dedicated radio station, it has lacked a Jewish faith secondary school.”
He said the opening of a Jewish high school has been made possible by recent legislation which invites groups to propose new state-funded schools to meet parental demand.
The Department of Education advances the proposal to the public consultation stage. The final report will be sent to Education Secretary Michael Gove for funding approval, which would allow the school to open in September 2013, the Post reported.
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