In the beginning...

The opening of HJPS in its Watling Street site was due to the hard work and vision of Jonathan Arkush and Stuart Polak, who from 1995 spearheaded the Steering Committee which would eventually launch the school. However, the school would never have existed without the generosity of Joy and Stanley Cohen OBE, who donated the site on which the school was built, and who have also continued to support the school in countless ways since that original donation. In honour of their generosity, the school was named after them at its official opening.

The orthodox communities of Hertfordshire have dreamed and worked towards establishing a Jewish primary school for 20 years, so in tribute to all those who volunteered their time in the cause, we would like to stress that this is only a record of the most recent events leading up to the school's opening. The following comprises a selection of the most memorable of all the turning points in the history of the development of the school:

January 1998
Secretary of State David Blunkett announced that he was ‘favourably disposed’ towards approving HJPS, but with one form of entry only. The Steering Committee welcomed the announcement, but pressed the case that demand justified a two form entry school.

April 1998
Government consent is given for a two form entry school, together with government funds of £1 million to build a school on the site donated by Stanley Cohen.

September 1998
To satisfy local demand, a one year private Reception Class opens a year ahead of government funding in at Borehamwood and Elstree Synagogue.

January 1999
Mrs Michele Bazak is appointed first Head Teacher

January 1999
Ground breaking ceremony at Watling Street on Tu B'shevat

February 1999
Admissions for first official intake show significant oversubscription

September 1999
Phase One of the building work completed. HJPS opens in part of the new building with Reception and Year One

November 1999
Phase Two of the building work completed and the new building is handed over to the school

January 2000
Kol Rinah Nursery School moves to the Watling Street site from Borehamwood and Elstree Synagogue

July 2000
In the presence of the Chief Rabbi, Prince Philip officially opens the school, which is named "The Joy and Stanley Cohen Hertsmere Jewish Primary School"

September 2000
Michael Cohen takes up his post as Head of Jewish Studies and Deputy Head of the school

January 2001
HJPS’s first ever Ofsted Report results in high praise for the school in virtually every aspect of its activities. To mention just a few:

    * Teaching was uniformly good
* Pupils’ standards were above average
* Pupils’ attitudes and behaviour were a credit to the school
* The school provides very well for pupils with special educational needs and for pupil’s spiritual, moral and social development
* The school had made a successful start that owed much to the Head Teacher’s energy and commitment, high expectations and clear sense of direction.

January 2001
The school’s state of the art ICT suite is successfully installed and opened to classes.

June 2001
HJPS’s first ever Key Stage 1 SATs show very satisfactory results.

HJPS’s first Pikuach Report shows excellent standards in Jewish Studies.

October 2001
Jonathan Arkush and Stuart Polak retire as Chairman and Vice Chairman of the governing body, to be replaced by Rebecca Hilsenrath and Richard Carr.

October 2001
Dedication of the school’s own Sefer Torah, generously donated by the community of Holland Park Synagogue.

July 2003
Planning consent received from Hertsmere Borough Council for the next phase of the building of the school – an extension comprising Foundation Stage classrooms and resource area, nursery extension, new Sports Hall and extra group rooms. A fundraising campaign is launched.

Winter 2003
Construction of new SEN room and new school kitchen.

March 2004
The Chief Rabbi visits the school and writes to Mrs Bazak that he has seen the future in the children of HJPS and it is bright.

Year 5 enjoys the school’s first ever residential trip away. It is a resounding success.

September 2004
Restructuring of the Nursery to provide morning and afternoon sessions for 60 children.