Agenda item

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 School to ‘Malorees Primary School’.

(2)       To commit to retaining the Junior School land that would transfer to the Local Authority for the educational use of Malorees Primary School.

Eligible for call-in: Yes

Deadline for submission of call-in: 6pm on Monday 4 August 25

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 children and, as a result, to formally recommend an amalgamation of the two schools.

In presenting the report, Councillor Grahl began by acknowledging the high regard in which both Malorees Infant and Junior Schools were held by the school community and wider local community in Brondesbury Park, reflecting the value and trust in the schools, their staff and the education they provided.  By way of context, she explained that the two schools were already federated, and the school leadership now wanted to fully amalgamate with a proposal that had children at its heart. The Council wanted the schools to have autonomy to actively contribute to decisions with the proposed amalgamation, she highlighted, having been led by the aspirations of the Governing Body.

In detailing the process that had taken place in terms of the recommendation now being considered to formally amalgamate both schools, the opportunity was taken to thank officers for the work undertaken in responding to the comments made and engaging with parents and residents as part of the consultation process.  Whilst recognising concerns had been expressed in response to the consultation, assurance was provided in relation to the key issues raised relating to the retention of any 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.  The opportunity was also taken to outline what was felt to be the considerable advantages to the school community, including the prospect of accessing DfE capital investment to carry out long overdue infrastructure investment, that would essentially lead to the rebuilding of both schools recognising how valuable an opportunity this represented not only for the school and its current as well as future pupils, but also as a key element of the Council’s core values in terms of supporting every child and young person to access local, high quality education in the borough.

Following on, Nigel Chapman (Corporate Director for Children, Young People and Community Development) also took the opportunity to reiterate the assurance provided in relation to the retention of land on the site for educational use and of the discussions with staff and trade unions that the amalgamation would not involve any proposed redundancies or changes in the terms and conditions of Malorees staff, although the need was identified to ensure the school (moving forward) continued to deliver effective budget management.  In relation to access to the DfE rebuild programme, members were advised this was currently subject to an option appraisal process which it was confirmed included a full rebuild of the whole site as an option the Council and school Governing Body continued to strongly advocate and support. Highlighting his experience of working with the DfE on a number of school projects, he confirmed that this had been positive and felt confident that the timeframe being set out would be achievable.

In considering the report, members took the opportunity to thank Councillor Grahl and the officers involved for their work in support of development of the proposed amalgamation recognising the sensitivity in which the process had been handled, particularly in relation to the treatment of staff at both schools, with support also expressed for the benefits identified in relation to the potential capital investment in relation to the school build programme and long term benefit for those currently attending the school and future pupils in terms of the teaching and learning environment.  The importance in keeping the wider school community updated on progress was also highlighted in taking the proposals forward.

In summing up, the opportunity was taken to thank the Governing Body along with all those who had engaged in the consultation process for their participation and support.  Having considered the representations received, contents of the report, outcome of the consultation and assurances provided at the meeting regarding the proposed arrangements for amalgamation, 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 School to ‘Malorees Primary School’.

(2)    To commit to retaining the Junior School land that would transfer to the Local Authority for the educational use of Malorees Primary School.