--- title: "The History of Sinai School" url: "https://www.sinaischool.com/about-us/the-history-of-sinai-school" school: "Sinai Jewish Primary School" --- [To book a Private Tour please click here and for all Admissions Enquiries please email admissions@sinai.brent.sch.uk or call Mrs Azagury-Slattery on 020 8204 1550 extension 3](https://forms.gle/i3mP6ZNbKhSmv5mX6) # The History of Sinai School **Sinai School’s history traces its origins all the way back to 1866.** Sinai School started life as the Bayswater Jewish School, founded by members of the Bayswater Synagogue for the children of “poorer brethren”. The school was originally based at St James’s Terrace, Harrow Road, it opened 1867 at 1 Westbourne Park Villas, as Paddington Bayswater Jewish School. The school then moved to a new building in Harrow Road in 1879 and in 1903 it had accommodation for 419 pupils. In 1902, 222 pupils took part in the Paddington Children’s Coronation Procession. In 1930, the school moved to Lancaster Road; changed its name to Kensington Bayswater Jewish School, which later became Solomon Wolfson. ![](https://www.sinaischool.com/images/images/bayswater.jpg) *Excerpt from the The Palgrave Dictionary of Anglo-Jewish History* But it did not stop there. Many years of hard work, negotiating and fund raising made it possible for this state of the art school to exist. Many hours of hard work and planning by an elite group of men and women went into bringing The MSSS into existence. Some of those who worked so hard in the late 70’s are still supporting us today. We value their expertise and continued support, and especially their foresight and persistence in establishing our “learning place of excellence”. ![](https://www.sinaischool.com/images/images/Captura4.png) In the late 70’s there was no doubt that there was a need for Jewish Education in the area, and so in September 1981 the doors of the new Michael Sobell Sinai School (MSSS) opened with the pupils and staff coming from Solomon Wolfson and Yavneh schools to form the new nucleus of the school. ![](https://www.sinaischool.com/images/images/jewish-education.jpg) *Excerpt from Palgrave Dictionary of Anglo-Jewry* There was far too little space to serve the pupils and staff of the already expanding school and so the first ten year plan was developed, and the school started to grow. A music room and computer suite, a dedicated learning block for Years Five and Six, a Gym, and a purpose built block housing our Nursery and Reception Due to the continued success of the school we have had to increase our intake numbers throughout the school and now MSSS is the largest Jewish primary school in Europe. ![](https://www.sinaischool.com/images/images/michael-sobell-sinai.jpg) *Michael Sobell Sinai School, 1981. Students wish Michael Sobell (centre) a happy birthday.* With the appointment in April 1996 of Mrs Vivienne Orloff as Headteacher and Joanna Walker as Deputy Headteacher in 1997 the school grew into the largest Jewish Primary School in Europe. After successfully leading the school for over 15 Years, in December 2011 Mrs Vivienne Orloff retired. The school’s foundation body in the United Synagogue. ### History of Heads and Deputies of the School #### 1981 - Headteacher Mr David Band z’’l (also Head of Solomon Wolfson) - 1st Deputy Mrs Myrna Glass (also Head of Yavneh) - 2nd Deputy Head Mr Jeffrey Leader #### 1990 - Headteacher Mr Ian Lebens, - Deputy Headteacher Mrs Myrna Glass, - Deputy Headteacher Mrs Kathy Peters #### 1996 – - Headteacher Mrs Vivienne Orloff - Deputy Headteacher Mrs Joanna Walker - Assistant Headteacher Mr Nicky Goldmeier #### 2012 – - Headteacher Mr Robert Leach - Deputy Headteacher Mrs Joanna Walker - Assistant Headteacher Mr Nicky Goldmeier #### 2014 – 2016 - Headteacher **Mr Robert Leach** - Deputy Headteacher **Mrs Juliette Lipshaw** - Assistant Headteacher **Rabbi Nicky Goldmeier** #### 2017 – - Headteacher **Mrs Juliette Lipshaw** - Deputy Headteacher **Mrs Claire Gough** ### About Sinai - [Welcome](https://www.sinaischool.com/about-us/welcome) - [Our Values and Visions](https://www.sinaischool.com/about-us/our-values-and-visions) - [Our School Day](https://www.sinaischool.com/about-us/our-school-day) - [School Policies](https://www.sinaischool.com/about-us/school-policies) - [Admissions Information ](https://www.sinaischool.com/about-us/admissions-information-2027-28) - [Admissions Information 2026-27](https://www.sinaischool.com/about-us/admissions-information-2026-27) - [Admissions Information 2027-28](https://www.sinaischool.com/about-us/admissions-information-2027-28) - [Term Dates](https://www.sinaischool.com/about-us/termdates) - [Pupil Premium](https://www.sinaischool.com/about-us/pupil-premium) - [PE & Sports Premium](https://www.sinaischool.com/about-us/pe-sports-premium) - [School Performance Tables](https://www.sinaischool.com/about-us/school-performance-tables) - [Wellbeing - Social & Emotional Support ](https://www.sinaischool.com/about-us/wellbeing-at-sinai) - [Climate Education](https://www.sinaischool.com/about-us/climate-education) - [Ofsted Reports](https://www.sinaischool.com/about-us/ofsted-reports) - [British Values](https://www.sinaischool.com/about-us/british-values) - [The History of Sinai School](https://www.sinaischool.com/about-us/the-history-of-sinai-school) - [Sinai Staff](https://www.sinaischool.com/about-us/sinai-staff) - [Governance & Finance](https://www.sinaischool.com/about-us/governance-finance) - [Contact Us](https://www.sinaischool.com/contact) - [Sinai Vacancies](https://www.sinaischool.com/school-s-vacancies) ![Sinai Jewish Primary School](https://files.schudio.com/sinai-jewish-primary-school/images/logo/logo-sinai-03.png) ### Sinai Jewish Primary School Shakespeare Drive Kenton HA3 9UD +44 (0) 20 8204 1550 ### About Us - [School Day](https://www.sinaischool.com/about-us/our-school-day) - [Admission Information](https://www.sinaischool.com/about-us/admissions-information-2027-28) - [Pupil Premium](https://www.sinaischool.com/about-us/pupil-premium) - [Ofsted Reports](https://www.sinaischool.com/about-us/ofsted-reports) - [Term Dates](https://www.sinaischool.com/about-us/termdates) ### Parents - [Curriculum](https://www.sinaischool.com/curriculum) - [Safeguarding](https://www.sinaischool.com/parents/safeguarding) - [School Lunches](https://www.sinaischool.com/parents/school-lunches) - [Attendance](https://www.sinaischool.com/parents/attendance-and-punctuality) - [School Uniform](https://www.sinaischool.com/parents/school-uniform-list) ### Useful Links - [Prospective Parents](https://www.sinaischool.com/prospective-parents) - [News](https://www.sinaischool.com/news) - [Vacancies](https://www.sinaischool.com/school-s-vacancies) - [Donations](https://www.sinaischool.com/parents/donations) - [Contact Us](https://www.sinaischool.com/contact) © Copyright 2021–2026 Sinai Jewish Primary School School & Trust Websites by [ ![Schudio logo](https://www.sinaischool.com/img/logo/light.png) ](https://www.schudio.com/) [![](https://files.schudio.com/sinai-jewish-primary-school/images/splash/1_to_1_tours.jpg)](https://forms.gle/i3mP6ZNbKhSmv5mX6)