The Hamonean Trust has eased bulge classes by taking on St Dominic’s Priory

AN Orthodox Jewish academy has officially opened in the building used by a Gospel Oak primary school which was closed down earlier this year. St Dominic’s Priory, a Catholic school, was closed by the Diocese of Westminster due to a shortage of pupils.

The site in Southampton Road, however, did not stay vacant for long. The Hasmonean Multi-Academy Trust has taken it on, adding to three schools it operates in Barnet. Pupils started term at the non-selective middle school for boys on September 7. The building has been rented to accommodate a bulge class of students from Hasmonean’s High School for Boys in Hendon.

Gary Swabel, chair of trustees, and Andrew McClusky, CEO of the Academy Trust, said it had “managed to secure this site at very short notice”, adding: “It enables us to offer a place to parents who would otherwise not be able to find a school that meets their religious need. “We were extremely excited to welcome so many students to our new site in September.”

More than 130 pupils applied for the Year 7 intake. Hasmonean said it carried out works in the building over the summer.