Purpose

This report provides the Cabinet Member for
Children and Families with an update, summary and recommended
formal proposals, following the public, informal consultation where
the Local Authority (LA) is proposing to amalgamate and/or possibly
close a number of local primary schools. This is in response to the
significant surplus of primary school places in the Borough.

Published Admission Numbers (PAN) reductions from 2025 onwards,
were not achieved in line with the LA’s recommendations as a
part of the Pupil Place Planning (PPP) Strategy agreed by Cabinet
in November 2022, thereby ‘triggering’ worst-case
options. Lambeth Local Authority will therefore use their powers
under section 15 of Education and Inspection Act (EIA) 2006, and
the School Organisation (Establishment and Discontinuance of
Schools) Regulations 2013, to pursue possible amalgamations or even
closures of up to 8 local, primary schools.

Decision

recommendations

1.    
To approve progress to stage 2 and 3 of the statutory process
for closing and amalgamating schools by publishing Statutory
Notices triggering the publication and representation stage as per
the opening and closing maintained schools guidance.

2.    
To approve, consulting specifically on the proposed:

a.    
Closure of Fenstanton Primary
School.

b.    
Closure of Holy Trinity CofE Primary School but simultaneously
signposting consultees to a partnership agreement with Christ Church Streatham CofE Primary
School.

c.    
Amalgamation of Christ Church Primary SW9
with St John the Divine CofE Primary School by closing St
John’s the Divine CofE Primary School and site and merging
into Christ Church Primary SW9 on its site.

d.    
Amalgamation of Glenbrook Primary School
with Kings Avenue Primary School by closing Kings Avenue Primary
School and site and merging into Glenbrook Primary School on its
site.

e.    
Pausing any future formal consultation on
the amalgamation of St Saviour’s CofE Primary School and St
John’s Angell Town CofE Primary school to allow for time to
explore more viable options for both schools and subsequently, the
East planning area.
 

3.    
To Approve the Formal Consultation Questionnaire.