Agenda item

This report provides a summary of the informal consultation undertaken between January 2025 and February 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.  The report recommends a move to formal consultation through publication of a statutory notice on 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 to achieve the amalgamation.

Prior to considering the report, Cabinet noted the comments and concerns raised by Patrick Martin (NEU representative), Michael Cleary (staff representative) and Aidan Reilly (local parent representative) in relation to the proposed amalgamation of Malorees Infant & Junior School.  These included the lack of perceived benefit to the school community arising from the amalgamation given the school was already operating as a Federation with a single Governing Body and senior leadership team along with the uncertainty over the rebuild proposals and potential financial impact on the funding available to the school moving forward, which it was pointed out was already in deficit.

Whilst acknowledging the concerns highlighted, Councillor Muhammed Butt (responding as Leader of the Council following the apologies for absence received from Councillor Grahl) took the opportunity to assure the school staff and parent community that the approach being recommended did not include any proposed redundancies or changes in the terms and conditions of school staff; would retain Malorees as a community school and not lead to the risk of academisation and had been designed to secure access to DfE funding that would provide long overdue and transformative infrastructure investment for the rebuilding of both school buildings recognising the school as an important community asset in Brondesbury Park.  In clarifying the funding reduction outlined in the report, it was pointed out this reflected the move towards the National Funding Formula, set by the DfE, with the Governing Body together with Council commitment to securing the schools financial resilience and confident of the plans in place to manage the funding reduction without an impact on staff.

In recognising the offer extended by the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools to meet with NEU representatives in order to continue discussions around the proposals moving forward Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)        To approve a period of formal consultation, through publication of a statutory notice, on proposals to:

(a)        Close Malorees Junior School;

(b)        Expand the age range of Malorees Infant School to admit children aged between 3 – 11; and

(c)        Change the name of Malorees Infant School to Malorees Primary School

Eligible for call-in: Yes

Deadline for submission of call-in: 6pm on Monday 14 April 25

Prior to considering the report, Councillor Muhammed Butt (as Leader of the Council) welcomed Patrick Martin (NEU representative), Michael Cleary (staff representative) and Aidan Reilly (local parent representative) to the meeting who he advised had requested to speak in relation to the proposed amalgamation of Malorees Infant & Junior School.

In opening the contributions, Patrick Martin, advised that whilst addressing Cabinet on behalf of members from the National Education Union from both schools (the majority of whom were opposed to the amalgamation proposal) he was also a specialist teacher working across both schools.  In terms of concerns highlighted these included what was felt to be the lack of perceived benefit to the school community arising from the amalgamation given the school was already operating as a Federation with a single Governing Body and senior leadership team along with uncertainty over the progress and viability of the DfE refurbishment/rebuild proposals, which were still to be confirmed and potential financial impact on the funding available to the school moving forward, with it estimated that the proposal may cost the school up to £186k annually representing a 5% cut in funding.  Whilst supporting the need for refurbishment of the school it was felt the impact any additional cut in funding would have on the learning and care being provided for pupils at the school, particularly the most vulnerable, also needed to be recognised with the school already in deficit and a majority of NEU members therefore opposed to the proposals.

In support of the concerns expressed, Michael Cleary (representing staff from both schools) advised of the impact which the delay in the new build/refurbishment scheme still to be progressed under the DfE fast track scheme had created in terms of an NCIL funding bid for a multi-use games area submitted by the Junior school being lost.  Whilst acknowledging that concerns relating to a potential land sale had been eased following discussions with the Council, it was pointed out that staff still remained uncertain given the process being undertaken to change the status of land owned by another local foundation school in Kilburn Park from educational to non-educational use and the increasingly uncertain and challenging context relating to the viability of any future rebuild or refurbishment scheme being delivered given the economic situation and resulting building delays and increased costs.  In view of the financial impact on the school Mr Clearly ended his comments by once again highlighting the extent of opposition from staff and the wider school community towards the amalgamation proposal, which he hoped would be recognised in the final decision made.

As a further and final contribution, Aidan Reilly (local parent representative) was then invited to address the meeting who advised he was also speaking in opposition to the amalgamation proposal with the following concerns raised.  Firstly, it was felt that any decision made to progress to formal consultation would contradict the outcome of the initial consultation on the basis that 81.7% of those who had responded had indicated they did not support the proposed amalgamation.  Although not referred to in the report, advised this had also been supported by a petition containing 260 verified signatures.  Reference was also made to the initial consultation proposal being clear that should any of the consultation processes indicate there was not agreement to the amalgamation proposal, or Cabinet decided not to accept any recommendation to amalgamate, the schools would continue as separate infant and junior entities with the Council therefore requested to stand by these terms, as outlined.  In addition, he advised significant concerns remained in relation to the financial considerations outlined as part of the initial consultation proposals based on the subsequent amendments identified in relation to the reduced level of pupil funding and other figures such as level of maintenance savings.  These concerns were also supported by what Mr Reilly felt to be a lack of evidence, relating to the impact new school buildings had in supporting increased enrolment with, he felt, the key driver in this respect remaining school leadership, staff, and culture as opposed to buildings.  Given the further projected decline in demand for school places and pupil numbers across London, including Brent, he therefore felt the enrolment optimism and associated funding outlined in support of the proposal was misplaced.  With concerns also raised and being pursued separately in relation to school governance arrangements Aiden Reilly felt that the proposals, as presented to Cabinet, had failed to meet the standards of fairness, transparency, and integrity expected and should therefore be rejected recognising the strength of opinion also expressed by the wider school community.

In thanking Patrick Martin, Michael Cleary and Aidan Reilly for their comments and acknowledging the issues raised, Councillor Muhammed Butt then moved on to formally introduce the report from the Corporate Director Children, Young People & Community Development on behalf of Councillor Grahl, who had needed to submit apologies for absence at the meeting.  In introducing the report, members were advised that it provided a summary of the informal consultation process undertaken on the proposal to amalgamate Malorees Infant and Junior Schools as one Primary School and sought approval to move to formal consultation on the closure of Malorees Junior School, expansion of the age range at Malorees Infant School and a change in name to Malorees Primary School in order to achieve the amalgamation.  Although unable to attend the meeting, Councillor Butt advised that Councillor Grahl had provided a statement (in her role as Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools) on the proposals presented for consideration which he had been asked to present on her behalf. 

Referring to the statement, he advised that Councillor Grahl had apologised to all present for not being able to attend the meeting and also thanked Patrick Martin, Michael Cleary and Aidan Reilly for the representations made and their engagement and continued scrutiny of the proposals, with Councillor Grahl advising that she would be more than willing to meet with NEU representatives should they have any further discussion points related to the proposals.

In terms of the proposals themself, the Leader advised that Councillor Grahl had been keen to outline what were felt to be the considerable advantages to the school community, including the prospect of accessing DfE funding to carry out long overdue infrastructure investment, that would essentially lead to the rebuilding of both schools recognising how valuable an opportunity this represented in the current economic climate given the struggles faced by many schools in maintaining their buildings and limited progress made by the previous Conservative Government in delivery of their School Rebuilding Programme.  She also felt it important to recognise that the merging of smaller schools had become a common strategy to provide financial resilience through the sharing of resources and staffing and in seeking to make them less vulnerable to declining pupil roll numbers, which had already been recognised as a risk in Brent and across London more widely.

The Leader advised that Councillor Grahl had also highlighted the complexities in terms of the role of local authorities in decision-making with regards to schools and had wanted to emphasise that the proposal itself had come directly from the school governing board, who had considerable autonomy in the day to day running of the school, as well as decisions surrounding funding and staff recruitment.  The role of Cabinet would therefore be to consider the request on its merits and ratify the decision should it be considered in the school’s interests.  Whilst recognising that the proposals had met with opposition and anxiety by some NEU members and parents at Malorees School he advised that Councillor Grahl had wanted him to provide the following reassurances:

• That the amalgamation would not involve any proposed redundancies or changes in the terms and conditions of Malorees staff.

• There would be no risk of academisation as a result of the merger with support expressed for retaining Malorees as a community school.

• Whilst a small funding cut had been identified in the report, this had resulted from changes to the National Funding Formula set by the DfE with the governing board together with Brent Council having already outlined how that would be offset by savings elsewhere.

As a result, the Leader advised that Councillor Grahl had confirmed her support for the proposal amalgamation and move towards a formal consultation, highlighting what she felt would be the transformative nature of access to the funding for the rebuilding of the school that would be provided as a result, not only for pupils but also in supporting the school being able to attract a new cohort of children, which the Council continued to recognise as an important community asset in Brondesbury Park.  In ending her statement, Councillor Grahl also took the opportunity to thank the school for overseeing the consultation as well as officers for their role in liaising with the school and the NEU.

Moving on to consider the report, members sought further clarification from officers regarding the concerns relating the reduction in funding identified, which Shirley Parks (Director Education, Partnerships and Strategy) confirmed related to changes in the DfE National Schools Funding Formula and had been based (in terms of maintenance) on the delivery of a new school building.  In terms of the impact of wider changes in the local area it was felt the situation regarding Islamia Primary School and the attraction of a new building would have the potential to attract more pupils with members advised that the schools were now in the active DfE rebuilding programme for consideration between April and December 2025.  In terms of the concerns raised regarding the lack of perceived benefit to the school community arising from the amalgamation, given the school was already operating as a Federation with a single Governing Body and senior leadership team, members were advised of the additional benefits arising in relation to the admissions criteria (removing the need for pupils currently at the Infant School to have to apply for a place at the Junior School) and Ofsted inspection framework.  In relation to concerns regarding governance arrangements at the school, confirmation was provided these were subject to review with the Council’s School Effectiveness Service continuing to work with the governing board to offer support in seeking to strengthening any arrangements, where needed.  Confirmation was also provided that the Governing Body remained confident it could manage the funding reduction over a period without impact on staff with the amalgamation also helping the new school to build one community.  Assurance was also provided regarding future use of the Junior School site (should it end up being transferred by the Foundation) with clarification provided that the situation at Kilburn Park, also a Foundation School, had been different as the redesignation of that land for non-education purposes was linked to wider delivery of the South Kilburn regeneration scheme.

Having considered the clarification provided, Councillor Muhammed Butt in summing up and seeking to provide a final response on the concerns raised took the opportunity to once again assure the school staff and parent community that the approach being recommended did not include any proposed redundancies or changes in the terms and conditions of school staff; would retain Malorees as a community school and not lead to the risk of academisation and had been designed to secure access to DfE funding that would provide long overdue and transformative infrastructure investment for the rebuilding of both school buildings recognising the school as an important community asset.  In clarifying the funding reduction outlined in the report, it was pointed out this reflected the move towards the National Funding Formula, set by the DfE, with the Governing Body together with Council commitment to securing the schools financial resilience and confident of the plans in place to manage the funding reduction without an impact on staff,  Confirmation was also provided that the issues raised within the supporting petition referred to at the meeting had been reviewed and addressed within the report.

On the basis of the clarification provided at the meeting and in recognising the offer extended by the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools to meet with NEU representatives in order to continue discussions around the proposals moving forward Cabinet RESOLVED to approve a period of formal consultation, through publication of a statutory notice, on proposals to:

(1)        Close Malorees Junior School;

(2)        Expand the age range of Malorees Infant School to admit children aged between 3 – 11; and

(3)        Change the name of Malorees Infant School to Malorees Primary School.