Schools minister opens Yavneh College

2:54pm Monday 23rd June 2008

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A Government minister went back into the classroom last week to celebrate the opening of Hertsmere's only Jewish secondary school.

Ed Balls, secretary of state for children, schools and families, joined hundreds of guests including Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks, students and teachers to mark the official opening of Yavneh College, in Hillside Avenue, last Friday.Before the ceremony, Mr Balls was taken on a tour, joining children in science, English, IT and maths lessons. As well as observing Year 8 pupils performing experiments, Mr Balls lit a bunsen burner, commenting: "This is the first time in 30 years that I have been allowed to do this."During his speech he praised the efforts of staff, governors, children and the wider community for their efforts in creating an "outstanding" secondary school.Mr Balls said: "What came over walking around the school was a sense of aspiration and excitement and of belonging and it really is quite infectious."Great schools need the support of the community and parents, they need an inspiring curriculum. It is important to have a sense of discipline and respect, it is important to have great teachers who are passionate about doing their job. But most importantly it is about great leadership that enthuses the school."That is why I am confident this is, and will be, a great school."Among other dignitaries attending the opening were Hertsmere MP James Clappison, Mayor of Hertsmere Sandra Parnell, and leader of Hertsmere Borough Council, Morris Bright.Headteacher Dena Coleman said: "Being headteacher of Yavneh College has been a privilege. "Together pupils, parents, staff, governors and trustees are well on our way to realising our dream of making Yavneh a flagship school for the Jewish community and for the English school system."Yavneh first opened its door to students in September 2006. Standing on the former Hillside School site, it currently teaches Year 7 and 8 students aged 11 to 13, but has the capacity to take up to 1,000 pupils aged up to 18.It will fill Years 9, 10 and 11 year by year, and a sixth form is due to admit its first pupils in September. Earlier this month the school received its first Ofsted report, which rated it as 'outstanding', with inspectors concluding: "Yavneh College has already become a good school with outstanding features."Rabbi Sacks also addressed the crowd, congratulating all those involved with the project, including honorary school president Benjamin Perl.He said: "Yavneh is a school that cares about integrating all the elements of our being, our Jewish faith and our engagement with the wider world. "It is a school in pursuit of excellence, committed to creating people strong in faith, high in moral aspirations, who want to make a contribution to Britain and who will spend their time and energy caring for others and working for the common good."