Issue - meetings

This report provides Cabinet with a summary of the formal consultation undertaken between 6 May 2025 and 10 June 2025 on the proposal to amalgamate Malorees Infant School and Malorees Junior School as one primary school for children aged between 3 – 11, including provision for nursery aged children.  Having outlined the results of the consultation, the report recommends an amalgamation of the two schools to be achieved by the closure of Malorees Junior School, the expansion of the age range at Malorees Infant School and the change of name of Malorees Infant School to Malorees Primary School.

Prior to considering the report, Cabinet noted the comments made by Angus Hislop (as Vice Chair of Malorees School Federation) who had requested to speak in support of the proposals to amalgamate Malorees Infant and Junior Schools.  In addressing Cabinet, Mr Hislop advised he was also Chair of the Federations Finance. Personnel, Property and Staffing Committee.  Outlining the Federations support for the proposed amalgamation he advised this was shared by the whole School Board with the Federation, following its formation in 2017, having identified a clear vision to achieve amalgamation, which had been delayed as a result of the process in seeking to manage the financial deficit within their budgets.  During this time, however, both schools had sought to achieve as much as possible in seeking to combine and deliver the benefits associated in working more closely together with them effectively operating as one and the key benefit now identified, in terms of formalising the process of amalgamation, being the ability to access the DfE School Building Programme in order to deliver a rebuild of the school.

Whilst recognising the potential financial impact on the school budget arising from the amalgamation, the Governing Body remained confident this could be offset against the reduction in maintenance costs association with the existing facilities linked to the new build programme and ability the new facilities would have in attracting additional pupils.  Having outlined what were felt to the substantial benefits associated with the proposals, the risks identified were also acknowledged, particularly in terms of any significant delay in the new build programme progressing.  Having considered and assessed the risk identified, however, the Board had felt this remained manageable and that the unique opportunity for refurbishment of the school was worth pursing given the wider benefits for both current and future pupils and educational provision on the site.

In response, Councillor Grahl (as Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools) thanked Mr Hislop for his support of the proposals. She also advised Cabinet of two further written representations received from local parents Aidan Reilly and Venera Itibaeva expressing concern, given the outcome of the consultation process, at the potential impact of the proposals in relation to the financial risks identified and uncertainty around the school rebuild programme.  As a result, assurance had been sought that any funding gaps identified in relation to the school budget would not impact on staff or lead to reductions in educational provision.

Having noted the representations received and assurance provided at the meeting regarding the retention of transferred land on the site for educational use and that the amalgamation would not involve any proposed redundancies or changes in the terms and conditions of Malorees staff, Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)       To approve the amalgamation of Malorees Infant School and Malorees Junior School, to be achieved through the:

(a)       The Closure of Malorees Junior School.

(b)       Expansion of the age range of Malorees Infant School to admit children aged between 3 – 11.

(c)        Change of the name of Malorees Infant  ...  view the full decision text for item 8

Prior to considering the report, Councillor Muhammed Butt (as Leader of the Council) welcomed Angus Hislop (Vice Chair of Malorees School Federation) to the meeting who he advised had requested to speak in support of the proposals to amalgamate Malorees Infant and Junior Schools.  In addressing Cabinet, Mr Hislop advised he was also Chair of the Federations Finance, Personnel, Property and Staffing Committee.  Outlining the Federations support for the proposed amalgamation he advised this was shared by the whole School Board with the Federation, following its formation in 2017, having identified a clear vision to achieve amalgamation, which had been delayed as a result of the process in seeking to manage the financial deficit within their budgets.  During this time, however, both schools had sought to achieve as much as possible in seeking to combine and deliver the benefits associated in being able to work more closely together with them now effectively operating as one and the key benefit identified moving forward, in terms of formalising the process of amalgamation, being the ability to access the DfE School Building Programme in order to deliver a rebuild of the school.

Whilst recognising the potential financial impact on the school budget arising from the amalgamation, the Governing Body remained confident this could be offset against the reduction in maintenance costs associated with the existing facilities linked to the new build programme and ability the new facilities would have in attracting additional pupils.  Whilst outlining what were felt to be the substantial benefits associated with the proposed amalgamation the risks identified were also acknowledged, particularly in terms of any significant delay in the new build programme progressing.  Having considered and assessed the risk identified, however, the Board had felt this remained manageable and that the unique opportunity for refurbishment of the school was worth pursing given the wider benefits for both current and future pupils and educational provision on the site.

In response, Councillor Grahl (as Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools) thanked Mr Hislop for his support. She also advised Cabinet of two further written representations received from local parents Aidan Reilly and Venera Itibaeva expressing concern, given the outcome of the consultation process, at the potential impact of the proposals in relation to the financial risks identified and uncertainty around the school rebuild programme.  As a result, assurance had been sought that any funding gaps identified in relation to the school budget would not impact on staff or lead to reductions in educational provision, which Councillor Grahl advised had been noted and would be taken into account as part of any final decision made.

Councillor Grahl was then invited to formally introduced the report from the Corporate Director Children, Young People and Community Development, which provided a summary of the formal consultation undertaken between 6 May 2025 and 10 June 2025 on the proposal to amalgamate Malorees Infant School and Malorees Junior School as one primary school for children aged between 3 – 11, including provision for nursery aged  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8