Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: September 30, 2024

Purpose:

Content: RESOLVED:   Cabinet considered and approved the following proposals to consult on:   1.  The closure (discontinue) of St Dominics RC Primary School on 31 August 2025.   2.  The closure (discontinue) of St Mary's C of E Primary School on 31 August 2025.   3.  Options for determining the future of Sir Thomas Abney Primary School as follows: 1.  Closure and amalgamation (merger) with nearby Holmleigh Primary School. This would require the closure of Sir Thomas Abney School with Holmleigh School being expanded from 1FE to 2FE, and operating from what is currently the Sir Thomas Abney School site.   2.  Closure on 31 August 2025   4.  Options for determining the future of Oldhill Community Primary School as follows: 1.  Closure and amalgamation (merger) with nearby Harrington Hill Primary School. This would require the closure of Oldhill Community School with Harrington Hill School being expanded from 1FE to 2FE and continuing to operate from its current site.   2.  Closure on 31 August 2025.   REASONS FOR DECISION   As a Council Hackney is legally responsible for the planning and provision of school places across its local area. This responsibility includes: ·  Ensuring there are sufficient school places (Education Act 1996). ·  As far as possible, complying with the preferences expressed by parents (School Standards and Framework Act 1998). ·  Increasing opportunities for parental choice (Education and Inspections Act 2006). ·  Providing fair access to educational opportunity (Education and Inspections Act 2006).   In undertaking its responsibility to ensure sufficiency across the education estate the Council must address surplus as well as deficit school places. It will therefore consider how best to organise schools for the efficient and effective delivery of high quality education. Proposals for school organisational changes and or the removal of surplus school places will therefore require robust evidence about current and future need, to inform the Council’s decision making as it implements its School Estates Strategy.   DETAILS OF ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED   An alternative option would be to do nothing to manage the supply of school places. This would likely result in the Council having to take a number of short-term measures. For example, dealing with surplus places often requires action to financially support schools that are unable to balance their budgets to maintain quality education. This measure can address issues in the short-term, but it is not financially sustainable, and does not provide best value when dealing with finite resources. The level of our schools overall reserves has decreased by circa £4-5 million over the last two financial years mainly as a result of falling rolls; without any changes these reserves are likely to move to an overall deficit for our schools in the next two financial years. Any future write-off of this deficit would fall to the Council's general fund.