Purpose

Further to the conclusion of the governor-led
consultation of the federated governing body of George Eliot and
Robinsfield Schools and the governing body of Barrow Hill School on
a proposed amalgamation of the three schools for September 2025, it
is the intention of the Council to publish a Statutory Notice to
proceed with a formal 4-week consultation on a proposal to
amalgamate primary schools in St John’s Wood. 

Decision

Summary of Decision: The Cabinet Member
for Children and Public Protection has approved the publication of
a statutory notice proposing to amalgamate Barrow Hill Junior,
George Eliot Primary and Robinsfield
Infant schools.??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
Robinsfield Infant School on 31 August
2025; Part 2: ?Notice in accordance with 15(1) of the
Education and Inspection Act 2006 that Westminster Council intends
to discontinue George Eliot Primary School on 31 August 2025;
Part 3: ?Notice in accordance with the Prescribed
Alterations to Maintained Schools (England) Regulations 2013, to
enlarge Barrow Hill and to change it from a Junior primary school
to an all though primary school; Part 4: Notice that
Westminster Council will seek to incorporate all pupils on the
roll of Robinsfield Infant School, and George Eliot Primary
School with Barrow Hill Junior School which will altered into
a all through primary school. The
amalgamated primary school will operate as a two form entry school
on a split site the Upper school will operate from
the current Barrow Hill school site and the Lower School from
the Robinsfield site. The Governing
bodies have proposed the amalgamated schools be renamed St
John’s Wood Primary School to reflect the joining of the
three community schools all located in the St John’s Wood
area of Westminster. 
 
Reason for Decision: The three schools
do not have enough children to fill three forms of entry from
September 2025 with vacancies across all year groups. Pupil
forecasts indicate a continuing decline in demand for primary
school places for at least the next five years.  All
three schools have been experiencing a fall in pupil numbers making
it more difficult for them to have the financial ability to be
adequately resourced in the medium to long term.