Our ethos
Excellence: First and foremost, JCoSS provides an excellent education – at all levels of ability and potential – guaranteed by a commitment to recruit the best teachers. Set in purpose-built, state-of-the-art facilities, students have the chance to learn amid facilities that are second to none.
Choice: JCoSS extends the choice of a Jewish education to all Jews, whatever their background, affiliation, status and practice. Broad and inclusive in our outlook, JCoSS promotes diversity within and beyond the Jewish community.
Inclusivity: JCoSS is a non-selective, state school welcoming students of all levels and academic abilities – if you want to be part of the JCoSS Community and consider yourself Jewish, then we welcome you. JCoSS is also proud to be working in partnership with Norwood to provide a unique resource for students with autistic spectrum disorders, ensuring support runs throughout the school.
Uniqueness: Our curriculum is specifically designed to enable all pupils the chance to fulfil their potential. There are academic and vocational courses with support for those with special needs and special talents through the mainstream school and the special resource provision.
To view JCoSS's full Philosophy and Purpose statement click here
Creating a cross community ethos
We are often asked how it can be possible to create a genuinely cross-community school, and how we deal with difficult issues such as teaching Jewish studies or managing different levels of observance.
In fact, while JCoSS is the first cross-community Jewish secondary school in the UK, most Jewish schools outside the UK are cross communal, while already there are a number of primary schools in the UK with which we share our approach.
JCoSS will need to find its own answers to some of the challenging questions we face but in doing so we will be able to learn from the best practice of those that have gone before.
To learn more about cross communal schooling check out the websites of some the existing cross-community schools in the UK and elsewhere.
Clore Tikva Primary School, Redbridge Visit site
Clore Shalom Primary School, Shenley Visit site
Charles E Smith School, Washington DC Visit site
Milken Community High School, Los Angeles Visit site