Agenda item

Questioner:

Teresa Jones, Chair of Governors, Cannon Lane Junior School

Asked of:

Councillor Zarina Khalid, Portfolio Holder for Children, Schools and Families

Question:

Why does the Council continue to follow an outdated Amalgamation Policy which will now result in a loss of Government funding of £154,000 per annum under the new school funding arrangements, and which will have a significant impact on the Education of the children of Cannon Lane Junior School (which is one of the consistently top performing schools in Harrow) when by staying separate the schools would retain all of the funding? 

Answer:

Thank you for your question.

Firstly, I would like to say that Harrow Council’s Amalgamation Policy is based on an educational rationale that will contribute to school improvement and I have read up and researched this and I do believe that this is the case.  The benefits of having an all-through primary school on a single site are the basis for the policy and growing national evidence shows that all through primary schools create more consistency between year groups. 

In relation to the loss of funding I would make the following points:

The government introduced this ‘lump sum’ funding change as an interim measure for two years and is currently reviewing all factors within the School Funding Reform, including the lump sum with regards to any changes in the 2014/15 school funding.

In 2013/14 the lump sum amount per school is £142,230.  If the amalgamation were to be agreed from September 2013, the combined school would retain these lump sums for this financial year and there would be no claw back of funding.  One lump sum would then be received in 2014/15, unless as part of the recent government consultation this changes from 2014/15.

This amalgamation, I believe will lead to economies of scale.  There are immediate savings as a combined school, not least in only having one headteacher salary, and as a combined school the governing body would be able to plan ahead strategically across the combined school to achieve efficiencies as all other primary schools in Harrow currently do.

The complete range of information about the proposal to amalgamate these schools was presented during the consultation, including financial information about the lump sum issue.  I note that following the consultation there was strong support from parents and I believe that the figure was about 73% in support from parents for the amalgamation. 

For all these reasons, the Council does not accept that the funding issue would have any significant impact on the education of children at a combined Cannon Lane School and I  believe the benefits do outweigh the costs in this case.

Supplemental Question:

Under the process set down in the amalgamation policy, which does not recognise the change in educational landscape, it has been a requirement to consult with the school community so why has all of the published information, including the Cabinet papers, withheld the fact that the Council has already applied for funding to permanently expand the Cannon Lane Schools, which is an issue that the parents and staff of Cannon Lane Junior School have shown is intrinsically linked to their view on the proposed amalgamation demonstrated by the high response rate from the Junior School parents and staff of 152 respondents to our recent questionnaire which indicates that only 37.5 are now in favour of amalgamation and a potential single 840 pupil school?

Supplemental Answer:

I do see what you are saying.  The decisions about the amalgamation of schools and the expansion of schools are subject to their own separate processes and forgive me but I am going to read from the notes I have. 

Now it was stated during the amalgamation consultation process that any proposals under the Primary School Expansion Programme would be decided separately from these amalgamation proposals.  The level of increased demand for school places is such that all schools in Harrow will need to be part of the solution.  There is a growing number of children in Harrow and I am sure you are aware of that, so we have to find school places and I do recognise the contribution Cannon Lane Schools are making and admitting 30 additional pupils in Reception for September 2012.

On 1 March 2013, the government launched the Targeted Basic Need Programme of Additional Capital Funding with a closing date for applications of 30 April 2013, so they had to get submissions in very quickly.  The Cannon Lane Schools fulfil the key criteria set by the government and we were keen to submit applications in order to maximise funding opportunities for Harrow, which you would understand.  We were very mindful that the timing of this application occurs at a time the schools are undergoing amalgamation processes and this timing would not be of our making.  A tight deadline from the government to submit applications means that the applications in relation to schools are effectively expressions of interest in principle to consider the provision further.  If the application is successful we would need to complete the feasibility study on the school site.  All due statutory processes in relation to any permanent expansion of the school, I can assure you, would be undertaken.

Thank you.