Akiva opened in 1981 as a one-form independent (fee-paying) school in a three-storey former convent school building on the Manor House site in Finchley, North West London. The Sternberg Centre is the largest Jewish communal site in Western Europe and houses, in addition to the school, the Leo Baeck College (which trains progressive rabbis and teachers), the New North London (Masorti) Synagogue and the headquarters of the Movement for Reform Judaism. There is also a Jewish bookshop on site and a café.
The school was the first Jewish primary school in the country to be established by the progressive Jewish community, providing particularly for members of Reform, Liberal and Masorti communities. In 2006 it was designated as a two-form entry school in preparation for the move to the state sector in the London Borough of Barnet. With funding from the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) a new building was constructed on the Manor House site into which the school finally moved at the beginning of January 2008.
The school will have 420 pupils with 2 forms in each year by September 2012. Susy Stone was appointed Head of the school in September 2008. The school is high achieving and oversubscribed. Although it is a Jewish school, it also reflects diversity, with a significant number of children coming from overseas (primarily Israel and South Africa).
In September 2008 Akiva had its first inspection as a voluntary aided school by OFSTED and simultaneously by Pikuach (the Jewish inspection body). Both inspections identified Akiva as a good school with outstanding features, with the Foundation Stage being singled out for special praise. You can read the OFSTED report here.
Classrooms for Reception and Infant children are housed on the ground floor of the building with direct access to external covered play areas adjoining their classrooms.. The reception classes also share an indoor area where the 2 classes can join each other for play or shared activities. Key Stage 2 is housed upstairs, together with the library and ICT suite. All the classrooms are large and bright, with a view of trees and greenery. There are also plenty of additional spaces for individual and small group study on both levels. There are separate playgrounds for infants and juniors.
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