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Jewish Lives: a longitudinal study to explore changing lives of Jewish secondary school students and their families. Focus: Israel

Date: 2018

Topics: Longitudinal Studies, Teenagers, Jewish Schools, Main Topic: Education, Schools: Seconday / High Schools, Israel Tours, Israel Attachment, Attitudes to Israel

Abstract: What do Jewish 18 year olds think about Israel and their relationship with the modern State? As this cohort enters late adolescence, their consciousness regarding their relationship with Israel will be forming. They will be leaving secondary school at the end of this academic year and if they continue onto further education, they will be confronted with the complex relationship with Israel that exists on campus. We are interested in the changing lives of adolescents and understanding how this cohort view their relationship to the modern State of Israel. This study is conducting an in-depth and sustained exploration of the changing Jewish lives of young people and their families. Our data is collected from students in 7 Jewish schools and from students in non-Jewish schools. We compared data collected before attending the post GCSE Israel Tour with information obtained during Year 13. All the Jewish schools in our sample apart from one offer a Year 9 Israel Trip, which is a two to three week educational tour of the country, taking place towards the end of the summer term. 73% percent of the student sample went on their Year 9 Israel trip. In addition, one of our schools offers a Year 9 extended Israel programme for 10 weeks, which typically attracts 10–20% of the eligible cohort.

Jewish Lives: a longitudinal study to explore changing lives of Jewish secondary school students and their families. Focus: The First Seven Years of the Study

Date: 2019

Topics: Longitudinal Studies, Teenagers, Jewish Schools, Main Topic: Education, Schools: Seconday / High Schools

Abstract: In 2011 we started following a cohort of Jewish 11 year-old students as they entered both Jewish and non-Jewish
secondary schools. We were interested in finding out about their school choices and experiences, attitudes to Judaism, Jewish identity and affiliation, sense of belonging in Britain, milestones and significant events. We were
also interested in finding out about their life choices after school. As we reach the end of seven years of research, we are able to look back at the opinions and attitudes of our students and their families with regard to their Jewish lives and their schooling.

Jewish Lives: a longitudinal study to explore changing lives of Jewish secondary school students and their families. Focus: School Choice

Date: 2015

Topics: Longitudinal Studies, Teenagers, Schools: Seconday / High Schools, Jewish Schools, Main Topic: Education

Abstract: For the first time in the history of Jewish schooling in the UK, researchers are following the Jewish lives of children who entered one of seven Jewish secondary schools at a particular moment in time. More than 1,000 families
are participating in a study that aims to explore the changing Jewish lives of families during the seven years their
children spend in secondary school, and possibly beyond. This publication focuses on what we have learned from parent surveys and interviews about secondary school choice. We have been able to explore how and why Jewish
families in the UK make their secondary school choices, a topic that can pre-occupy them for several years before their child actually makes the transition from primary school to secondary school.

Jewish Lives: a longitudinal study to explore changing lives of Jewish secondary school students and their families. Focus: Bar/Bat Mitzvah

Date: 2015

Topics: Longitudinal Studies, Teenagers, Schools: Seconday / High Schools, Jewish Schools, Bar and Bat Mitzvah, Main Topic: Education

Abstract: For the first time in the history of Jewish schooling in the UK, researchers are studying the Jewish lives of more than
1,000 children who entered one of seven Jewish secondary schools in 2011. We are also studying a comparison group of close to 100 Jewish families whose children did not enter a Jewish secondary school in 2011.
This publication focuses on what we have learned from parent surveys and family interviews about Bar/Bat Mitzvah – a key stage within the Jewish life cycle. When we surveyed and interviewed families in 2013–14, their
children were in Year Nine. They reflected on the extent to which Bar/Bat Mitzvah played a role in their lives. We were able to ask if, where and how this moment was celebrated as well as the role their school played.

Jewish Lives: a longitudinal study to explore changing lives of Jewish secondary school students and their families. Focus: Project Overview

Date: 2015

Topics: Longitudinal Studies, Teenagers, Schools: Seconday / High Schools, Jewish Schools, Main Topic: Education

Abstract: Six Jewish secondary schools in the greater London area and one in Manchester, are taking part in a longitudinal study to understand the school’s significance in the lives of the families whose children are enrolled
in the school. It is not intended to evaluate the school’s performance. This project represents a unique opportunity to help understand the school’s significance in the lives of students, their families and the wider community. Our work will help with policy and planning for the short and medium term future.

Jewish Lives: a longitudinal study to explore changing lives of Jewish secondary school students and their families. Focus: Being a Young Jew in Britain

Date: 2016

Topics: Longitudinal Studies, Teenagers, Schools: Seconday / High Schools, Jewish Schools, Jewish Identity, Main Topic: Education

Abstract: Between September 2000 and August 2001, more than 600,000 babies were born in the UK. Of those, around 2,800 were born within the Jewish community. These babies – our millennium cohort – have grown up in complex, exciting and
challenging times. We are interested in the changing Jewish lives of the children born in that cohort.

We are following students, and their parents, who chose one of seven Jewish secondary schools for their children. We are following the children who entered Year 7 in September 2011. As we are collecting data every two years, the third and most recent phase of data analysis has just been completed, whilst the students are in Year 11. We are comparing this group to families who chose to send their child to non-Jewish schools.

This is a unique opportunity to conduct an in-depth and sustained exploration of the changing lives of young people and their
families.

In 2016, we received completed surveys from 799 students (almost 80% of the total);
278 from parents with students at Jewish schools and a further 57 from families with
children at non-Jewish schools. In addition we interviewed 110 families.

This publication focuses on what we have been learning with regard to our students’ developing identities. To what extent do they identify as Jews? As British citizens? We wanted to find out the extent to which these elements play a role in our students’ lives, and in what ways school plays a role in that development.