Jewish school policy 'legitimate' (From Harrow Times)

Jewish school policy 'legitimate'

5:59pm Thursday 3rd July 2008 in News By Tristan Kirk

A JEWISH school has been cleared of racially discriminating against an 11-year-old boy when it refused to admit him.

A judge said the Jewish Free School's (JFS) entry policy was "entirely legitimate" and there had been no illegal discrimination.

The boy applied to attend the school, in The Mall, Kenton, but was turned down for not being an approved Jew.

A child's jewish status is inherited from the mother, in this case a Catholic who had a conversion through a Progressive synagogue and not recognised by the United Synagogue.

His father took the case to the High Court, saying he was "appalled" by the treatment his son had received and claiming racial discrimination.

But the judge at the High Court dismissed the case today, saying the kind of admissions policy in question "is not materially different from that which gives preference in admission to a Muslim school to those who were born Muslim, or preference in admission to a Catholic school to those who have been baptised."

He said: "But no one suggests that such policies, whatever their differential impact on different applicants, are other than a proportionate and lawful means of achieving a legitimate end."

The judge added the admission policy was "essential" to its legitimate aim of pursuing the school's Orthodox ethos.

Ben Jaffrey, appearing for the United Synagogue on behalf of the school, successfully argued a ruling against the school would have serious consequences for more than twenty other schools and Jewish organisations providing services in the community.

The father has until Friday, July 11, to appeal against the ruling.