Joan Jacobs appointed chairman of Pikuach inspection service

Joan Jacobs, the former head teacher of North Cheshire Jewish Primary School, has been appointed chairman of the Board of Deputies’ inspection service, Pikuach.

Joan, who spent 34 years in the teaching profession, 18 years of that as a head teacher, will be overseeing the strategy and development of Pikuach, the statutory equivalent of Ofsted for Jewish religious education, and working alongside the recently appointed director of the organisation, Jeffrey Leader.

She said: “ I am looking forward to an exciting and stimulating challenge. It is so important that we promote our service to parents with children in Jewish schools and give them a more informed idea of what Pikuach does in terms of inspections and working with Ofsted. Our purpose is to continue to support the constantly improving curriculum and teaching of Jewish Studies in our wonderful schools.”

Photo: Joan Jacobs (left) with Pikuach director Jeffrey Leader and Board chief executive Gillian Merron