Brent Schools update. Islamia Primary'a future remains uncertain. New SEND provision is planned but overall mainstream primary pupil numbers decline presaging budget problems

 I know it is annoying when issues are in the news and then everything goes quiet, so in a Public Question to the next Full Council on November 18th, I requested an update on some of the school stories covered previously in Wembley Matters.

Currently many of our primary schools are experiencing reduced demand following Brexit, and as young families are forced out of the borough in the search for affordable accommodation. This has led to pupil  numbers in schools falling and as funding is per pupil developing budgetary problems. However, there is an increasing need for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision.  There are a number of former education sites that are vacant or due to become vacant and may be more if some schools are forced to close or amalgamate if they are no longer financially and educationally viable.

Particularly quiet has been the situation surrounding the state-funded Islamia Primary School. The school was given an eviction notice by Yusuf Islam (AKA Cat Stevens) some years ago but in a consultation parents opposed the closure and were particularly opposed to a move from Queens Park to the vacant Strathcona site in South Kenton.

Here are the questions and answers. I will have a chance for a follow up question arising from the answer I received, so if you have something you would like me to ask please write it as a comment or  below or send it to wembleymatters@virginmedia.com I will only be able to choose one.

Remember, you too can ask a question at Full Council but it has to be sent well in advance of the meeting.

 

Question from Martin Francis to Councillor Gwen Grahl (Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Schools)

 

This question regards educational sites in the borough. Can the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools please advise on:

 

(1) any progress in finding a new school site for Islamia Primary School, along with the timetable for any move, if applicable.

 

(2) future plans for:

(a) the Strathcona Site in South Kenton; and

(b) the Gwenneth Rickus Building (Leopold Primary) in Brentfield Road.

 

(3) progress on delivery of the following with timetable for completion and full

opening:

(a) North Brent School, Neasden Lane;

(b) SEND School, London Road, Wembley Central

(c) Post 16 Skills Centre, Welsh Harp

 

(4) Recognising that it is not part of the Council’s Estate but is restricted to educational use, whether you also have any information or have been engaged on the future of the Swaminarayan School (formerly Sladebrook) site in Brentfield Road.

 

Response:

 

The Yusuf Islam Foundation is still considering whether it wishes to proceed with the relocation to the Strathcona site following consultation in autumn 2022. No timescale for the relocation has been agreed. Should this proposed use of the Strathcona site not proceed, the site will be used to develop additional provision for children with SEND. In this event, the local authority would continue to work with the Yusuf Islam Foundation to identify a suitable alternative site for the school.

 

As set out in the refreshed School Place Planning Strategy 2024-2028, agreed by Cabinet on 12 November 2024, consideration will be given to opportunities to use any spare capacity within the primary school sector to expand provision for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, given the increasing need across the borough.

 

The Gwenneth Rickus site of Leopold Primary School will continue to be used for mainstream primary provision until September 2027 and the Council has not determined the future use of the site, that could also include provision for SEND.

 

With regards to the other questions:

 

 The North Brent School moved into its new buildings in Neasden in September 2024.

 Wembley Manor, the new secondary SEND school, opened in temporary accommodation this September and the building work is on target for the school to move to its permanent home on London Road in September 2025.

 The design work of the Post-16 Skills Resource Centre based in Welsh Harp is near completion, with a view to building work being completed in 2027.

 

The local authority does not have any information on the future use of the former

site of the Swaminarayan School on Brentfield Road.