AN Orthodox Jewish school has been given the green light to become a Barnet-maintained state school – despite being located in Brent.

The independent Menorah High School for Girls, in Brook Road, Dollis Hill was granted voluntary-aided status by Barnet Council’s education committee last Wednesday (January 6).

It means the school, which opened in 2001, will now be partly-funded by the council, and will help provide extra state school places.

Despite being in Brent, it applied to Barnet Council because it predominantly serves the Orthodox Jewish community in Barnet – where nearly all of its 209 pupils live.

Councillor Reuben Thompstone, Conservative chairman of the children, education, libraries and safeguarding (CELS), said: “I am very pleased to welcome Menorah High School for Girls into Barnet’s family of schools.

“With its high quality offer and additional places set to be created, the school will make a significant contribution to the excellent educational mix in the borough, whilst also securing itself a sustainable future.”

Councillor Dan Thomas, deputy leader of the council and member of the committee, also welcomed the decision.

He said: “This is a great move for both Menorah and Barnet residents. I’m proud that in Barnet we continue to support our faith schools and, indeed, encourage all forms of high quality educational provision in order to ensure choice for parents and pupils, as well as the new places we need to cater for a growing population.”

But Cllr Thomas attacked the committee’s Labour councillors for abstaining on the vote.

He said: “It was a shame that this proposal did not receive cross-party support. By abstaining, the Labour Group once again showed their antipathy to new school places and parental choice.

“Following the disgraceful way they delayed the opening of a brand new free school in Burnt Oak last summer, it is clear that they cannot be trusted to support our schools.”

Councillor Anne Hutton, Labour’s education spokeswoman, said the group acknowledged the “high standard of education the school undoubtedly provides”.

She said they abstained over unanswered questions about the school's viability – both in terms of pupil numbers and whether it would be financially viable, “without having to rely on future financial contributions from the council, which would impact on other schools”.

Cllr Hutton said: “At present the school relies to a large extent on voluntary contributions. There are also logistical questions around managing a secondary school in another borough, although most of the pupils come from Barnet.

 “It was very difficult to ask the questions we thought should be asked as the Tories on the committee kept trying to stifle the debate.”