About JFS
JFS is a co-educational, state-funded (voluntary-aided) Jewish comprehensive school for pupils aged 11–18 in Kenton, north-west London. Founded in 1732 as the Jews’ Free School, it is the oldest Jewish day school in the English-speaking world and, with around 2,000 pupils, the largest Jewish secondary school in Europe; its foundation body is the United Synagogue.
It is state-funded, so there are no fees and no academic entrance exam — admission is non-selective, with priority to Jewish applicants through a Certificate of Religious Practice, followed by standard oversubscription criteria.
Year 7 Admissions Guide for JFS
JFS Admissions Criteria
JFS is a non-selective comprehensive, so there is no academic entrance exam. Year 7 places are coordinated through your home Local Authority, with priority given to Jewish applicants via a Certificate of Religious Practice (CRP); you also complete the school’s Year 7 Supplementary Form.
- ✓Step 1 — Visit: Look round at an Open Day or arranged tour to get a feel for the school. This is not part of any selection process.
- ✓Step 2 — Apply through your Local Authority: List the school on your child’s secondary Common Application Form (CAF) through your home Local Authority by the national deadline of 31 October in Year 6. You do not register or pay a fee directly to the school.
- ✓Step 3 — Submit the CRP and supplementary form: Submit the Year 7 Supplementary Form and a completed Certificate of Religious Practice (CRP) by the deadline. Applicants with a completed CRP are prioritised.
- ✓Step 4 — Offers: Your Local Authority sends offers on National Offer Day (1 March of Year 6). Places are allocated against the published oversubscription criteria below.
- ✓Step 5 — Accept your place: Accept the offer through your Local Authority by the date given. There is no acceptance deposit — it is a state-funded school.
As a state-funded school there are no tuition fees. Support such as free school meals and pupil premium funding is available to eligible families — contact the school for details.
How Places Are Allocated at JFS
- Looked-after and previously looked-after children.
- Jewish applicants who submit a completed Certificate of Religious Practice (CRP), prioritised by their CRP points.
- Children with a sibling at the school on entry.
- Remaining places are offered by distance from the school.
- See the school’s published admissions policy for the full criteria and definitions.
Admissions & Catchment for JFS
JFS is a faith-based state school, so admission is by religious criteria rather than a fixed catchment or entrance exam — though distance can apply as a tie-breaker within the criteria.
Confirm the current CRP requirements and deadlines in the school’s admissions policy and your Local Authority’s booklet before applying.
Academic Performance at JFS (GCSE & A-Level Results)
JFS is a large, successful comprehensive that achieves strong results from a non-selective intake, alongside a full Jewish studies programme; its most recent Ofsted rating was ‘Good’.
- GCSE: around 54% of grades at 9–7 (A/A*) — strong for a non-selective school — across a wide curriculum.
- A-Level: around 88% of entries at A*–B, across a broad sixth-form offer of roughly 500 students.
- Progression: most leavers progress to university, including Russell Group institutions, with some taking a gap year in Israel.
Exam results change annually, so always confirm the latest published figures on the school’s website.
Pastoral Care, Sport & Extracurricular Life
Founded in 1732 as the Jews’ Free School, JFS is a co-educational state (voluntary-aided) Jewish school for pupils aged 11–18 on a 26-acre campus in Kenton, under the foundation of the United Synagogue. Europe’s largest Jewish secondary, it is a warm, inclusive modern-Orthodox community that combines a strong work ethic with a commitment to Jewish values and the State of Israel, organised into houses (Angel, Brodetsky, Weizmann and Zangwill).
Alongside its academic and Jewish studies curriculum, JFS offers a broad co-curricular programme of sport, music, drama, chesed (charitable) work and trips, including to Israel. For the full list, see the school’s own website.
Frequently Asked Questions about JFS
How do I apply to JFS for Year 7?
Apply through your home Local Authority’s coordinated admissions, naming JFS on the Common Application Form by 31 October, and submit the school’s Year 7 Supplementary Form and Certificate of Religious Practice so it can apply its criteria.
Is there an entrance exam at JFS?
No. JFS is a non-selective comprehensive with no 11+ entrance exam; places are allocated on the published criteria rather than by a test.
What is the Certificate of Religious Practice (CRP)?
It is the form, run with the United Synagogue and Office of the Chief Rabbi, used to demonstrate Jewish religious practice (points for synagogue attendance, Jewish education and volunteering). Applicants who submit a completed CRP are prioritised.
How are places allocated if JFS is oversubscribed?
Priority goes to Jewish applicants via the CRP, alongside looked-after children and standard criteria such as siblings and distance. JFS offers around 300 Year 7 places — a ten-form entry.
Does JFS have a Sixth Form?
Yes — a large Sixth Form of around 500 students, offering a wide range of A-Level and other courses; some external students also join after GCSEs.
Are there fees at JFS?
No. It is a state-funded school, so there are no tuition fees.
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