King David High School attracts almost all of the potential Jewish pupils in the area. Most pupils in King David are of other faiths, however our Jewish values underpin all aspects of school life and we are committed to ensuring that our Jewish ethos is maintained and indeed strengthened. This is achieved most notably through the King David Way – a set of values we feel epitomise life at King David, centred on Chesed, Kehila and a commitment to learning – central pillars of Judaism and expressed through our school motto: Let there be light though faith and work.

Important days in the Jewish year are marked across the Campus by all students and there are many visitors to the School who are involved with the Jewish world, such as Professor Robert Winston. The School charities, Jewish and non-Jewish, are a reflection of the dual nature of King David High - a unique school - a Jewish school - with a multicultural and diverse student body.

Within the Liverpool Jewish community, King David High School is regarded as vital in the Jewish education of the future generations. It is testament to the inclusive nature of the school’s faith ethos that all children (regardless of faith) are able to build upon the school’s community ethos. Pupils who demonstrate the King David Way as part of their daily demeanour and treatment of others are celebrated on the school’s King David Way boards. These are located in the school’s reception , serving as a visual reminder to all school visitors of the values which underpin our school community.

It is not simply the formal education process in general Judaism, Bar and Bat Mitzvah Studies, Jewish History or GCSE and A-level courses, but also the sympathetic transmission of the "golden chain" of Jewish tradition. Thus, subjects covered in school are often important in the longer time span, e.g. the significance of the Talmud and Mishna, the importance of keeping Shabbat, Kashrut, festival observance, positive identification as being part of the Jewish family, Israel etc.

Prayer within Judaism is formalised as the morning (Shacharit), afternoon (Mincha) and evening (Ma'ariv) services. It is vital that students gain "hands on" experience of prayer - there is a compulsory Shacharit service each week, led by Jewish faith leaders here in Liverpool. Collective worship is a feature for all pupils with assemblies and reflection in Ready to Learn.

Local rabbonim are regularly invited in to host Jewish Services which are held on Wednesdays for Girls and Thursdays for Boys at 8.30am. There is a Shabbat service every Friday for all Jewish pupils at 8:30, also.

The balance of the School Curriculum is heavily influenced by the fact that both Jewish Studies and Modern Hebrew are essential and compulsory components of a Jewish pupil's programme, with the former ending at KS4, and the latter at KS3. (with the potential for further study across Key stages 4 and 5).

Strands of the Jewish ethos and values permeates all aspects of the school, with topics such as Holocaust studies in History, Judaism in RE or Israel in Geography and Dreidel probability in Maths. As indicted in our Programme of Collective Worship, the assembly themes are driven by the weekly parashot and daily registration includes a moment of silent reflection for all pupils as a daily act of collective worship.

At King David, we believe in an immersive education, which we achieve by offering a multitude of school trips throughout the year, including the opportunity for Year 9 pupils to experience living at Kibbutz Lavi, as well as prospective annual trips to Israel and a partnership with the Menachem School in St Petersburg, Russia.

There are also a series of visits planned for pupils across all year groups in association with various agencies in order to extend and deepen the students’ understanding of their Jewish roots and identity. Informal activities are also offered at lunchtime such as our weekly Parshah study group on Tuesdays and our Israel club.

House System

Pupils are assigned a tutor group on entry to the High School which forms the House system.

The tutor groups are named after four regions of Israel and the school badge has a different colour depending on which house a pupil is assigned to.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FOUR HOUSES.

services

All Jewish pupils from Year 7 to 13 should be strongly encouraged to attend and take an active part in Jewish Services. Apart from festivals where times may vary, these take place at 8.30am on Wednesdays and Fridays in the Beth Knesset or in Jewish studies room 2.

A communal service (called a "minyan") requires a quorum of 10 males aged 13+ to take place. A full Jewish morning service takes place on one of the intermediate days of Sukkot, on Purim and also Yom Ha’Atzmaut. A register is taken on these occasions.

Pupils are encouraged to lead all sections of the School services, and to play their full part within this most essential area of Jewish community life.

School Trips

All school trips are organised in accordance with Jewish laws and guidance and with the Jewish Calendar in mind.

Modesty (tznius-fying)

Modesty is the foundation of Jewish values and is one of the fundamental underpinnings of the Jewish family.  While it has wider meanings across many aspects of Jewish life, it particularly relates to dress. As an Orthodox Jewish School, our school uniform complies with this Jewish law: skirts should be below the knee and the shirts and blazers also ensure that pupils are dressed modestly.  On the occasion that pupils are permitted to wear their “home” clothes, this same modesty must be observed. On a practical level this means the following items are not permitted: shorts, short skirts, low-cut blouses, crop tops, revealing, and tight-fitting clothing , playsuits and ‘strappy’ tops.

Dietary Laws - Kashrut

All foods officially consumed on the premises must comply with the rules of kashrut. Therefore the school lunches, Food Technology classes, PA refreshments and so on are all offered under the rigorous and extensive controls of Jewish law, the Liverpool Kashrut Commission under the auspices of the London Beth Din.

This includes the complete separation of milk and meat foods and their derivatives and all the utensils that come into contact with them.

The main school kitchens is run as a "meat operation" and that means that no dairy foods can be served from it - All food consumed on the blue folding tables must be prepared in the School Kitchen and all trays, cutlery and crockery must not be taken out of the Atrium under any circumstances.

Apart from sandwiches bought in the canteen, no food should be taken out of the Dining Room to be consumed anywhere else in the school by any pupils or, indeed, staff. No cutlery or plates etc should be taken from the Atrium. No food or drink should be taken into the Atrium, unless designated areas.

The Food Technology room is a dairy kitchen and, again, is not an area where pupils or staff should eat any food not prepared there. It must be kept strictly kosher. No food or drink should be taken into the Food Technology room, except for pupils bringing ingredient under the supervision of the Food technology teacher. For students and staff, packed lunch must not include any meat, poultry, or shellfish. This includes the staffroom.

Food which is not officially provided cannot be guaranteed kosher, and so pupils bringing packed lunches must abide by the rules regarding kashrut. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES, HOWEVER, MAY IT BE BROUGHT INTO CONTACT WITH SCHOOL FOOD FACILITIES. For example, utensils cannot be borrowed from the Food Technology room for use at an end-of-term party where food has been brought into School by the participants.

In the Staffroom

All food stored in the Staffroom must be completely wrapped so that the kosher and non-kosher food can be stored side-by-side with impunity in the fridge, or cooked without steam and spills making the microwave non-kosher. If by any chance something does spill over, or a bag breaks, please do not just clean up, but inform Rabbi Pereira so that he can advise on the proper way of ensuring that the facilities remain useable by all staff.

ALL TRIPS THAT PROVIDE FOOD AS PART OF THE COST MUST PROVIDE FOOD THAT IS ACCEPTABLY KOSHER, AND BE ACCOMPANIED BY SOMEONE WHO IS SUFFICIENTLY QUALIFIED AND INFORMED TO CONFIRM THAT THIS IS SO. Pupils must not use "prepared food" facilities, e.g. cafes when on trips, and must not purchase any food or drink at all unless already ascertained as kosher and given permission by a teacher.

When, perhaps, giving an end of term treat, staff must ensure that all items, including confectionary, are kosher.

The Building

All doors (other than toilets and storerooms) will have a mezuzah fixed on the right-hand doorpost. This is a small case, about the size of an adult's finger, containing a scroll of parchment on which is written the creedal Jewish statement of God's Oneness and Unity, the responsibility to love God in all ways, the responsibility to educate children and the biblical commandment to "write these words on the doorposts of your house and upon your gates".

 By the Campus reception is a room called the Tilly Rosenblatt Beit Knesset. This is the School's own small synagogue. While it is in no way "holy" or "consecrated", it is deserving of special respect and staff should ensure that Jewish boys have their heads respectfully covered.

Jewish boys are encouraged to wear their kippot at all times - it being compulsory within Judaism - and should also have their heads covered in Assembly and in the Dining Room, as well as in Jewish Studies and Modern Hebrew lessons. All members of staff should help to ensure that this school rule is observed like any other.

Regarding school clothes generally, Judaism regards modesty in dress as a great virtue. Sixth form female students sometimes wear clothing in summer which is not in keeping with this modesty - shorts, short skirts, bare midriffs and low-cut or revealing tops. A quiet word, diplomatically put, is usually enough to let these girls realise their apparel is not in keeping with the ethos of the School.