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Decision details

Outcome of the informal consultation on a proposal to amalgamate Westminster Cathedral and St Vincent De Paul Roman Catholic Primary Schools and a recommendation to the Council to publish a statutory notice about the proposal

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Young People and Learning

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

Westminster Council to determine if it is to publish a statutory notice proposing to amalgamate Westminster Cathedral and St Vincent De Paul Roman Catholic Primary Schools.  A decision to publish would entail an issued Notice.

 

Part 1: Notice in accordance with 15(1) of the Education and Inspection Act 2006 that Westminster Council intends to discontinue Westminster Cathedral Roman Catholic Primary School on 31 August 2022.

 

Part 2: That Westminster Council will seek to incorporate pupils from Westminster Cathedral Roman Catholic Primary School with St Vincent De Paul Roman Catholic Primary School with a planned Published Admissions Number of 30 pupils from Reception entry September 2022.

Decision:

 

1.        Recommendations

 

1.1        To publish a statutory notice from 6 January – 3 February 2022 proposing to amalgamate Westminster Cathedral and St Vincent de Paul RC Primary Schools.  A Notice to publish would entail:

 

1.2        Part 1: Notice in accordance with 15(1) of the Education and Inspection Act 2006 that Westminster Council intends to discontinue Westminster Cathedral Catholic Primary School on 31 August 2022.

 

1.3        Part 2: That Westminster Council will seek to incorporate pupils from Westminster Cathedral RC Primary into St Vincent de Paul RC Primary  with a planned Published Admissions Number of 30 pupils from reception entry September 2022.

 

 

  2.     Reasons for Decision 

 

2.1     The impact of falling rolls across the borough and the number ofschools in financial deficit present several challenges. It has therefore been necessary toconsider making changes that we do not have excess surplus primary capacity going forward. Provision that can be well resourced and is of high quality enables  schools to continue to thrive and offer the opportunities that children deserve: a strongcurriculum with excellent teaching, enriching activities and a joyful experience at primaryschool. The joining of the schools will provide pupils with a full and enriched curriculum as the school will be fully subscribed and fully funded per pupil.  

 

2.2      A review of primary school provision was commissioned by Schools Forum in summer 2020 and led by the Isos Partnership. The review  identified schools   considered to be at risk due to low or falling pupil numbers and/or budget deficit and the subsequent risk to standards.

 

2.3       Westminster Cathedral RC Primary and St Vincent de Paul RC Primary were identified as schools at risk both with falling rolls and a budget deficit. Westminster Cathedral has a considerable budget deficit. The schools are led by the headteacher of St Vincent de Paul as the Interim Executive Headteacher. 

 

2.4        The informal consultation at Westminster Cathedral and StVincent de Paul RC Primaries about the proposal has been carried out in partnership with the Roman Catholic Dioceseof Westminster and in liaison with the Council’s Education Partnership Board (EPB). The EPB  plays a key role in enabling schools to meet the challengeof ensuring that all children and young people in Westminster achieve the best possibleoutcomes and canflourish if schoolsare workingin effectivepartnerships. The EPB also seeks to ensure that steps are taken to address excess surplus capacity in primary schools in Westminster

Publication date: 22/12/2021

Date of decision: 22/12/2021

Effective from: 05/01/2022

Accompanying Documents: