The Next 80 Years: Building Our Future Together
The Trustees of the JSSM and Hasmonean MAT are delighted to now be in a position to submit planning applications which we believe will secure new buildings for Hasmonean’s boys and girls for the next 80+ years.
Click here to learn more about our plans
A Strategic Vision for Growth and Excellence
For over eight decades, Hasmonean has provided exceptional Jewish education to our community. Today, we face an exciting opportunity to secure our schools’ future for the next 80 years through a carefully planned redevelopment programme.
The Challenge We Face
Growing demand for high-quality Jewish secondary education has led to increasing pressure on places, particularly for boys. Currently, our Year 7-8 pupils are housed in temporary accommodation in Belsize Park, a solution that, whilst maintaining our educational standards, is neither sustainable nor ideal for our families who must travel considerable distances.
Our Solution
After extensive planning, we’ve developed a comprehensive strategy that will:
- Consolidate the Boys’ School on the larger Page Street site
- Provide the Girls’ School with enhanced facilities at a rebuilt Holders Hill site
- Eliminate the need for the temporary Belsize Park location
- Increase capacity to meet growing demand whilst maintaining our commitment to excellence
Phase 1
What We’re Building A state-of-the-art three-storey building featuring:
- Purpose-built Middle School for 270 Year 7-8 pupils
- Combined Beis Medrash and professional-standard sports hall
- Modern changing facilities and sports amenities
- Integrated design that complements the existing buildings and Green Belt setting
Why This Location The new building will replace the current gymnasium and music block, which are:
- Significantly undersized for our school’s needs
- In poor condition requiring urgent replacement
- Located on the ideal site for expansion without compromising Green Belt land
Thoughtful Design
- Green Belt sensitive: Built primarily on the footprint of existing buildings
- Environmentally focused: Features green roofs, solar panels, and high-efficiency systems
- Community minded: Carefully designed to minimise visual impact with native tree planting
- Future ready: Modern facilities designed to DfE standards with room for growth
Phase 2
In conjunction with Phase 1, we will proceed with Phase 2:
- Rebuilding of Holders Hill site to create a state-of-the-art Girls’ School
- Expanded and fully landscaped Girls’ playground space
- Full site exchange enabling both schools to benefit from purpose-built facilities
- Capacity expansion to meet long-term community needs
Timeline and Next Steps
Current Status: Planning application submitted for Phase 1 Expected Start: Subject to planning approval Completion: Phased approach ensuring minimal disruption to education
Get Involved – Join Our Building Committee
This is your school’s future, and we want our community to be part of shaping it. We’re forming a Building Committee and seeking parents with professional expertise to contribute their knowledge and help guide this important project.
We’re particularly looking for parents with experience in:
- Fundraising
- Architecture and design
- Construction and project management
- Engineering (structural, mechanical, electrical)
- Surveying and property
Your expertise could help ensure the best possible outcomes for our school community. If you’re interested in contributing your professional skills to this exciting project, please email projectrenewal@hasmoneanmat.org.uk with details of your background and availability.
Together, we’re building the next 80 years of Hasmonean excellence.
FAQ
The Overall Strategy
Hasmonean’s earlier planning applications sought to situate the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools adjacent to each other on land that is currently occupied by the Girls’ School and land surrounding it. What happened to those plans?
The original plans faced a number of obstacles as they involved significant redevelopment on Greenbelt land and Open Space. In addition, the cost of building that project had steadily grown from when it was first conceived to approx. £80-90m. We are grateful to the incredible work undertaken by those who put forward these plans which demonstrated Hasmonean’s need for new schools. The new plans that have been developed have very little impact on the Greenbelt and will cost approximately £30m.
Why do the boys and girls need to swap sites?
The Boys’ School is growing at a much greater rate than the Girls’ School and research shows that this is a trend which is set to continue. The Girls’ School site has much more space to accommodate them.
Why do you wish to retain a Separate Middle School at Copthall when you relocate the students at Belsize Park?
The Middle School has vastly improved students’ transition from primary to secondary school. Locating the Boys’ Middle School next to the Boys’ Upper School will enable the two schools to collaborate and interact while retaining all the benefits of the Middle School.
When will the Middle School be relocated to Copthall?
The plan is to relocate the Middle School to the Copthall site by September 2027. Boys and girls will be educated in separate buildings with different start and end times.
When will the Year 9-13 boys and Year 7-13 girls’ swap sites?
The Boys and Girls sites will be swapped once the new building on Holders Hill Road is available.
What will happen to the nursery?
We are working with the nursery to find another suitable location by the time that building work needs to commence.
Why can’t the school just keep the Middle School running at Belsize Park?
The vast majority of the children who are being educated in The Middle School in Belsize Park reside in Barnet and should be educated within the borough where they live. The Middle School was always a short-term solution and costs the school roughly £1m per year, costs that are unsustainable in the long term.
Have the Elector Rabbonim been consulted about the new plans?
The new plans have been shared with them and they are satisfied that the school’s ethos can be maintained.
Have North Hendon Adass been made aware of these proposals?
North Hendon Adass have been made aware of our proposals.
What happens next?
The planning application to redevelop the Girls’ School will be submitted in June 2025.
The planning application to redevelop the Boys’ School will be submitted in August 2025.
How can we show our support for the plans?
You can register your support when the planning application goes live here: https://www.barnet.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning-applications-and-permissions/view-search-and-comment
If we have questions or comments Hasmonean’s Building committee, to whom do we submit them?
Please submit all questions or comments to this email address: projectrenewal@hasmoneanmat.org.uk
How will we learn about developments and progress on the new planning applications?
We will be informing all stakeholders at key points throughout the planning and development cycle to ensure everyone is aware of what progress is being made.
Building and Development
Why do you need to build on Green Belt land?
The new building is being constructed primarily on the footprint of existing buildings that urgently need replacement. We’ve worked closely with planning consultants to ensure our proposals are sensitive to the Green Belt designation, including extensive tree planting and green building technologies.
How will this affect the local community?
We’ve designed the development to be as unobtrusive as possible. The building will be largely screened by existing trees, and we’re planting additional native species. Construction will be carefully managed to minimise disruption.
What about parking and traffic?
The existing car parking arrangements will remain unchanged. The site already accommodates the current number of pupils safely, and our traffic management plans ensure minimal impact on local roads.
Education and School Life
How will the sports hall function as a Beis Medrash?
The sports hall has been specifically designed with dual functionality in mind. The space will serve as a modern sports facility during PE lessons and school activities, whilst also providing a dedicated Beis Medrash for davening, learning, and so on. The flexible design ensures both uses are accommodated to the highest standards.
Will there be any disruption to my child’s education during construction?
We’re committed to ensuring minimal educational disruption. Where construction is planned during term time protective measures will be in place. The phased approach means pupils will continue their education normally whilst building proceeds.
What about parking and traffic?
The existing car parking arrangements will remain unchanged. The site already accommodates the current number of pupils safely, and our traffic management plans ensure minimal impact on local roads.
How will the Middle School separation work in practice?
The Middle School will operate as a distinct unit with its own entrance, play areas, and facilities, whilst sharing some specialist facilities (like the hall and sports centre) with the Upper School. This model has proven highly successful at our temporary Belsize Park site.
What happens to pupils currently at Belsize Park?
Once the new Middle School is complete, all Year 7-8 pupils will transfer to the new purpose-built facilities at Page Street, eliminating the need for the temporary Belsize Park location.
Will class sizes change?
Our commitment to maintaining excellent teacher-to-pupil ratios remains unchanged. The additional capacity allows us to serve more families without compromising educational quality.
Practical Concerns
How is this being funded?
We are in ongoing discussions with the DfE and Barnet Council and additional fundraising will be required from trusts, grants and the wider community. No additional voluntary contributions are planned specifically for this development.
What about facilities for pupils with additional needs?
The new building is designed to full accessibility standards with lifts, accessible toilets, and specialist SEN facilities. This represents a significant improvement over our current provisions.
Will the school transport arrangements change?
Current transport arrangements will continue unchanged. The consolidation of the Middle School at Page Street will actually simplify logistics for many families currently travelling to Belsize Park.
What environmental measures are being included?
The building features extensive environmental technologies including solar panels, green roofs, high-efficiency heating systems, and sustainable materials. We’re also significantly increasing tree coverage across the site.
Future Planning
What’s the long-term vision for both sites?
Our 80-year vision ensures both schools have modern, purpose-built facilities. The Boys’ School will have capacity for growth on the larger Page Street site, whilst the Girls’ School will benefit from completely renovated facilities at Holders Hill.
How do we know this is the right approach?
This strategy follows extensive consultation with the schools, architects, planning specialists, and our school community. It addresses our immediate capacity needs whilst providing sustainable long-term solutions.
What if planning permission is not granted?
We’re confident in our planning application, which has been carefully prepared with professional guidance. Pre-application meetings with planners have been very positive.
How can parents stay updated on progress?
We’ll provide regular updates through our newsletter, website, and parent communications. Key milestones will be communicated well in advance, and we welcome questions throughout the process.
How can parents get involved in the building project?
We’re forming a Building Committee and would welcome parents with relevant professional skills to contribute their expertise. If you have experience in fundraising, architecture, construction, project management, planning, engineering, surveying, or related fields, please email projectrenewal@hasmoneanmat.org.uk to express your interest. Your involvement could help ensure the best possible outcomes for our school community.
If we have questions or comments for Hasmonean’s Building committee, to whom do we submit them?
Please submit all questions or comments to this email address: projectrenewal@hasmoneanmat.org.uk
How will we learn about developments and progress on the new planning applications?
We will be informing all stakeholders at key points throughout the planning and development cycle to ensure everyone is aware of what progress is being made.
