From the school website
Readers will remember the controversy over state-funded Islamia Primary School currently housed in Queens Park. The school was given an eviction notice by the land owner, the Yusuf Islam Foundation, as it wanted to expand the neighbouring private secondary schools.
An informal consultation was held that rejected the school moving to the Strathcona site in Preston ward. Calls for it to be housed on the site in South Kiburn set aside for the merged Carlton Vale Infants and Kilburn Park Junior schools was rejected by Brent Council. Islamia parents cited the very low pupil numbers at those schools compared with the over-subscribed Islamia Primary. Brent Council argued that the numbers at the new South Kilburn Primary would increase as the regeneration progressed and attractive new resources were offered.
My suggestion in a question at Full Council asking if the soon to be closed Brentfield Road site of Leopold Primary School could be allocated to Islamia Primary received this response from Lead Member for Schools, Cllr Gwen Grahl in November last year:
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.
A new SEND school is to be be opened in London Road, Wembley.
After a long silence the issue has reappeared as 'The Future of Islamia Primary School' on the Brent Cabinet Agenda for the May 19th meeting 'for determination'.
There is little more information except a note stating 'There could be an exempt appendix as legal guidance.'
I will update readers as soon a I have more information,
1 comment:
Why is the local authority supporting a privately established, faith-based school that promotes segregation, especially by gifting it a site originally earmarked for a diverse, multicultural SEND school community? This decision undermines efforts toward inclusion and equal opportunity for all children, regardless of background or ability.
many of the pupils attending Islamia Primary School are not from the immediate area, which increases traffic and emissions due to longer school runs. At a time when we are facing a climate crisis, encouraging local school attendance should be a priority…not just for community building, but for reducing our environmental impact and enhances the health of children by increasing walking journeys and fitness. Supporting integration in local schools benefits everyone particularly when are muslim brothers and sisters are othered.
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