The event took place at Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue with graduates and their families with two MA graduates travelling from as far as South Africa to join the ceremony.
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis KBE, President of LSJS addressed the graduates saying they have achieved so much more as a result of their engagement with LSJS. “We learn in order to teach, and I congratulate you and everything you will achieve in your careers, as you go into schools and transform the lives of future adults at this challenging time.”
Guest speaker Sarah Sultman MBE spoke about her son’s birth and her subsequent journey which led her to found Gesher school for children aged four to 16 with a range of mild to moderate special educational needs. “Our tradition elevates the role of a teacher to something divine; not just a conveyor of information but a shaper of destiny. Our modern world celebrates influences and entrepreneurs, but it is teachers who deserve our deepest kavod. LSJS embodies the idea that we should be lifelong learners. How we can do more to inspire others, especially our next generation, is a question we must ask ourselves.”
Dr Helena Miller, Director of Degrees and Teacher Training Progammes, Senior Research Fellow commented that she was “so proud of the BA graduates and proud to have been part of their journeys.”
The graduates were delighted to celebrate their achievements with their friends and family, as well as to have the opportunity to thank their teachers.
“LSJS doesn’t just train teachers – it cultivates thinkers, nurtures leaders, and dares us to believe that our classroom can change the world,” said School Direct Secondary graduate Alexandra Bouaziz. “Teaching isn’t just about covering the curriculum – it’s about uncovering each child’s potential. LSJS has helped us find our voice as educators.”
“We are so appreciative of all the time invested in us, making your sessions so engaging and shaping us into the teachers we are now and the ones we’ll continue to be,” said School Direct Primary graduate Mohamed Osman. “Thank you to everyone at LSJS for running such an amazing pathway into teaching.”
“Watching our students graduate is the highlight of my year. Great education never stops as we keep learning and being students. You all inspire us and will be great role models as you shape the future of the next generation,” said LSJS Chief Executive Joanne Greenaway. “I would like to give a very special tribute to Dr Helena Miller. Her leadership over the past seven years has been exceptional and she will be greatly missed from the teacher training and undergraduate programmes, although we are very pleased that she will continue to run our MA and developing PhD programmes.”
LSJS offers a range of routes to gaining qualified teacher status (QTS), from School Direct (Primary and Secondary), School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) and Assessment Only. As well as teacher training, LSJS provides BA (Hons) and MA in Jewish Education, validated by Middlesex University, which are accessible to students around the world. Applications are open for students to start a part-time BA (Hons) Jewish Education this September and a MA starting in January.
