Purpose

Further to the conclusion of the recent
governor-led consultation of Our Lady of Dolours and St Mary of the
Angels Catholic Primary Schools to amalgamate the two schools for
September 2025 on the St Mary of the Angels school site, it is the
intention of the Council to publish a Statutory Notice to proceed
with a formal 4-week consultation on the amalgamation
proposal.  

Decision

Summary of Decision: The Cabinet Member
for Children and Public Protection has approved the publication of
a statutory notice proposing to amalgamate Our Lady of Dolours and St Mary of the Angels Catholic Primary
Schools (Appendix B). A Notice to publish would entail: Part 1:
Notice in accordance with 15(1) of the Education and Inspection Act
2006 that Westminster Council intends to discontinue Our Lady of
Dolours Catholic Primary School on 31
August 2025; and Part 2: That Westminster Council will seek to
incorporate pupils from Our Lady of Dolours Catholic Primary School into St Mary of the
Angels Catholic Primary School to be located on the St Mary of the
Angels school site with a planned Published Admissions Number of 30
pupils from reception entry September 2025.
 
Reason for Decision: Both schools have
falling rolls making it more difficult for them to have the
financial ability to be sustained in the medium to long term. The
two schools do not have enough children to fill the current two
forms of entry from September 2025, with vacancies across all year
groups. The decline in pupil numbers challenges the financial
stability the schools, both of which are in deficit, as funding is
allocated on a per-pupil basis.