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RESOLVED:
 
1. 
The outcomes of the informal stage of consultation and
Equality Impact Analysis provided as Appendix 1 were
considered;
 
2. 
Whether to publish a Statutory Notice and Proposal for
the closure of St Mary’s CE Primary School, was
considered;
 
3. 
Proceeding to the next stage of the statutory process
by publishing the Notice in order to initiate the Statutory
Representation Period to run from Thursday 6 February to Wednesday
5 March 2025 was agreed.
 
REASONS FOR DECISION
 
The recommendations are made in order to
determine the Council’s response to the consultation
proposals to close St Mary’s CE Primary School on 31 August
2025.
 
Prior to determination of the initial
proposals and during the consultation period a number of
alternatives were explored to support a sustainable St Mary’s
CE Primary School. These were discussed in detail with the School
Governing Body and the London Diocesan Board for Schools (LDBS) in
a series of meetings held between 12 September 2024 and 8 January
2025. Unfortunately, no alternatives were found to be viable. The
reasons for the recommendation together with the alternatives
considered and the explanations as to why they could not be pursued
have been set out in Appendix 2.
 
It is therefore recommended that Cabinet agree
to the publication of a statutory notice proposal to close
(discontinue) St Mary’s CE Primary School on 31 August
2025.
 
DETAILS OF ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND
REJECTED
 
Cabinet could decide not to proceed to the
next stage of the statutory consultation, in which case the Council
would not be able to proceed with the closure proposal for St
Mary’s CE Primary School. The Council would then have to
decide on how the school’s increasing budget deficit would be
funded beyond the 2024/25 school year, given that it is not
financially viable and is most unlikely to see a sufficient
increase in its pupil numbers for the situation to change in the
foreseeable future.
 
Cabinet could decide to delay its decision on
proceeding to the next stage of the statutory consultation, but
this would mean that the school’s financial position will
significantly worsen, impacting on the quality of education for its
current pupils and leaving an even bigger budget deficit, should
the school close later than the proposed date of 31 August
2025.  Officers are convinced that any
delay would not be in the best interests of educational provision
in the area.