Islamia Primary move to the Brentfield Road Leopold School site on May 19th Cabinet Agenda. Consultation starts late May/Early June

 

The proposed site for Islamia Primary School, Brentfield Road, Neasden

 On October 11th 2023 Wembley Matters speculated that the Leopold Primary School building in Brentfield Road (Gwnneth Rickus site), that had been earmarked for closure, could be a possible location for Islamia Primary School. LINK. Islamia had been given notice of eviction by the Yusuf Islam Foundation (YIF) that owned the Salusbury Road, Queens Park, site.  The YIF wants to expand the nearby private Muslim secondary schools.

Now Sophia Moussaui, Chair of Islamia Governors, has written to parents to say that the Governors and Brent Council have agreed that the site could offer a positive solution for the future of the Islamia Primary School.

The proposal goes to Brent Cabinet on May 19th and if planned progress goes well Islamia could open on the new site in September 2027. The YIF has extended the eviction notice until August 2027 but states that if the school does not move the eviction will go ahead.

 An informal consultation, managed by the Governing Body, will go ahead at the end of this month if the Cabinet agrees the proposal followed by public meetings at Islamia in the first two weeks of June.

Ms Moussaui writes:

We understand that any change brings questions and we are committed to keep you fully informed as  the process develops.

 The Cabinet Paper (available HERE) includes the following points (my emphasis):

Islamia Primary School (IPS) is one of Brent’s most popular schools as the only state Muslim school in the borough. The school has 418 pupils on roll (School Census January 2025) and each year the 60 Reception places are usually offered to families who applied for the school as their first preference. The school has a high sibling factor with 43% of Reception places in both September 2025 and September 2024 offered to siblings. The majority of pupils on roll are from Brent. The numbers of out-of-borough children offered was historically low. However, this has changed since the school removed a local catchment area from its admission arrangements in 2020. 21.5% of current students live outside Brent.

This is an increase on the figures from January 2024 (17.2%) and January 2023 (14.4%). 36.7% of offers made for Reception in September 2025 are for children who live outside Brent.

 

It is recognised that relocating Islamia Primary School to the Gwenneth Rickus site could give concern to parents and staff who are impacted by and objected to the closure of the Leopold Primary School provision on the site. Other local schools may also be concerned that the location of the IPS on the Gwenneth Rickus site could impact on their pupil numbers. It is the case that Islamia Primary School may attract local pupils in the future. However, as the only Muslim faith school in Brent, IPS draws from a wide area across the borough and for some pupils attending the school the site will be closer to where they live. The school also recruits pupils from other boroughs. Furthermore, the high sibling factor in the school’s intakes (over 40%) means that many families currently attending the school will continue to access places in the future. Given the wide geographic area that the school serves, the school would be expected to develop a sustainable travel plan that includes public transport

 

£2.8m of Targeted Capital Fund was transferred from IPS to Brent by the DfE in 2012 in order to manage and deliver the planned IPS new build following the school’s unsuccessful attempt at delivering the project. The design of the Salusbury Road site expansion referred to in paragraph 3.2.3 was funded using £200K of the TCF and therefore £2.6m remains. The DfE has agreed on an annual basis for this funding to be rolled forward until such time as a permanent solution for IPS has been identified. They have been asked to consider if this funding could be made available for investment in the Gwenneth Rickus site, recognizing that it is not required to provide basic need accommodation. As this would not meet the criteria for the targeted capital programme under which this funding was provided, the DfE may require it to be returned

 

The school’s DSG allocation currently includes £63K in split site funding, which is an element in the national funding formula allocated to schools that operate from more than one site. The school would no longer be eligible for this funding if it relocated to the Gwenneth Rickus site, reducing its per pupil funding by £150 per pupil.

 

The 206 and 224 buses stop near the school and the 18 passes the junction with Brentfield Road. The 260 and 266 stop a little further away in Harlesden. The 206 is already busy with south-north school pupil travel and the service would need to be improved. Double-deckers have already been introduced at some periods.

An Islamia Primary parent commented:

Twenty odd years and they come up with a school miles away. I think  there are many missed opportunities.

The future of Islamia Primary School on the agenda for Brent Cabinet's May 19th Meeting

 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,

 

BREAKING: Yusuf Islam breaks silence on Islamia Primary School move and announces postponement of decision until a review of south Brent schools has been carried out

In a letter today  to parents and guardians of Islamia Primary School, Yusuf Islam confirmed an agreement with Brent Council to postpone a decision on the school’s site until a further review of primary schools in the south of the borough has been carried out.

 

Dear Parents / Guardians, Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullah

“Whoever is mindful of Allah, He will make a way out for them, and provide for them from sources they could never imagine.” (Qur’an 65:2-3)

I begin by wishing everyone the best of blessings for this new Islamic year, 1445H. May Allah swt make it a year of peace, success, and progress for all associated with our schools, organisations and the community beyond.

As many of you are aware, the Foundation has been working for a long time with the Board of Governors, in consultation with Brent Council, to progress arrangements for a bigger and better home for Islamia Primary School. This story goes back to 2007, when we first helped the local authority to accommodate extra children coming from the closure of the Avenue School. I would like to acknowledge the efforts of your dedicated Governors to ensure that an appropriate outcome is achieved.

Last week, I had a meeting with the Leader and Chief Executive of Brent Council to discuss the issue face to face. They ideally wanted a decision about the proposed site on Strathcona Road by Friday 21 July. Al- hamdulillah, we were able to obtain an agreement to put off that decision until a further review of schools in the south of the borough.

During the meeting, I advised the Leader that the Foundation has agreed to extend the school’s stay at Salusbury Road until at least the end of the next academic year, 2024, to provide additional time for the local authority to identify any possible alternative sites.

As a result of this extension, we were assured by the local authority that the funds allocated for the school’s relocation would remain secure and available for the primary school until at least the end of this year, by which time we will be able to review other possibilities they may come up with.

Insha Allah, we will have a wonderful opportunity to provide IPS with a new home that offers modern facilities and resources. This is the least that the pupils, parents, and staff of the school deserve after having to cope with the difficulties caused by the split-site arrangement (Winkworth Hall) for well over a decade.

At the same time, we continue to work on ambitious plans to modernise the Salusbury Road site for our secondary schools as part of a comprehensive long-term vision. We have had to keep these plans on hold for 15 years, so that we could accommodate the needs of the primary school, but it is now time for us to move forward with more determination for those plans.

Twenty-five years ago, we made history by becoming the first Muslim government aided school in this country. Many parents today are not fully aware of the immense struggle we had to go through to secure state funding. But Allah is the Granter of success.

This is the 40th anniversary year of our school’s opening, and I believe that we are at the doorstep of another milestone, insha Allah. As we know, Allah promises “with hardship comes ease” (Qur’an 94:5-6). 

 

Islamia Primary parent, Jamad Guled, was contacted by Wembley Matters for an assessment of what this means for Islamia families:

There is a sense of relief among the parent body. We all remember the initial tone of the consultation. The move to Strathcona sounded inevitable back then and if it did not materialise the only other proposed outcome would have been the closure of the school. As parents and stakeholders we were extremely alarmed and we have raised our concerns with the school governors and Brent Council.

This communication is far more positive and acknowledges the need for a local solution which is paramount to current families. It also recognises the the importance of preserving this extraordinary school. This is reassuring in many ways and we hope that the Yusuf Islam Foundation, IPS Governing Body and Brent Council will take into account stakeholders' views and will work together to find a satisfactory local solution so that children are not left behind.

 

Islamia Primary Governing Body hopeful that more suitable options for school move may be identified by end of Autumn 2023 -stay of eviction until at least the end of August 2024

 

Sofia Moussaoui, Chair of Governors of Islamia Primary School, today wrote to parents and carers, suggesting that a more suitable site for the evicted school might be found than that at Strathcona in Preston ward.

The proposed move to Strathcona has been opposed by the great majority of parents and community that responded to the informal consultation as Wembley Matters revealed earlier this week. LINK

The letter stated:

Following the personal intenvention fo our Founder Yusuf Islam, earlier this week, and a meeting with Cllr (Muhammed) Butt, it has been agreed that Islamia  can remain on the current site at least until the end of August 2024, to enable further consideration of the needs of the school and further work to be done to identify a more suitable local solution, I understand that Yusuf Islam will also be writing to parents and that letter will be sent on when received.

The parents are assured that the Governing Body and Local Authority continue to consider the suitability of the Strathcona site for Islamia Primary School and no final decision has been taken on the suitability of relocating to that site: 'that decision cannot be made until we are clear on whether there will be any other options.'

The mention of a 'more suitable local solution' suggests that a site in Queens Park or Kilburn is being sought, despite earlier Council claims that no site in the area was available.

The overdue formal consultation, to be managed by the school, cannot be carried out until a potential site/s can be included in the proposal.

A parent commented:

This communication sounds more positive compared to past ones and parents are hopeful a local solution will be identified soon. This is a highly successful and resilient school in Brent. We need a good outcome to celebrate a fantastic school that is going to turn 40 this year.

Islamia Primary move to new site and closure strongly opposed in informal consultation.

Islamia Primary School has responded to my Freedom of Information Request with some of the information requested over the proposed move of the school to another site, Strathcona, in Preston war of Brent.

The summary of informal consultation responses shows that the majority of parents and the wider community reject both Options offered in the consultation. 96 parents did not want to move to Strathcona and want Islamia to be offered the new South Kilburn building (currently ear-marked for Carlton Vale Infants and Kilburn Junior School) or another suitable site in the area.

Options offered in the consultation.

 

Option 1. For the school to relocate to a new site (the only one offered was Strathcona)

Option 2. For the school to close with pupils moving to other local schools with spare places.

 

I requested pupil mobility data to see how uncertainty over the future may have affected the school. There has been movement but Islamia operate a waiting list and state that the school is full at 420 pupils. 

 

 

The timetable for the move as tabled by Brent Council is now way behind and there appears to be little prospect of the school moving in time for a September 2024. The Council paper said that the Yusuf Islam Foundation had agreed an extension of the eviction to January 2025 only if there are unforseen events. The delay in the start of statutory consultation, apparently in order that mitigations for the move be agreed between the school and Brent Council, may not qualify as an unforseen event. 

 

 

The school responded to my request for copies of all correspondence with the Yusuf Islam Foundation and Brent Council regarding the eviction notice on the school and the subsequent search for alternative premises, survey/s of the Strathcona site and refurbishment/new build proposals, by saying that the request should be made to the Foundation and Brent Council.

Following the school's response I have sent another FI request:

1. Are the Governing Body going to undertake a statutory consultation on the move of Islamia to the Strathcona site (or another site)?

2. If so, what mitigations have been agreed with Brent Council?

3. If so, what is the timeline for the statutory consultation?

4. If the school is to move what is the timeline/target date for opening of the school on the new site?

5. Has a new eviction date been agreed with the Yusuf Islam Foundation?

 

A dribble of information on Islamia Primary says the Governing Body and Brent Council are considering 'mitigation measures' over move No information on what they are mitigating!

 It has proved really difficult to find out what is going on regarding the proposed move of Islamia Primary School to the Strathcona site in Preston ward. The informal consultation finished in November and there has not been a whisper about the results leaving parents and the community in the dark. I submitted a Freedom of Information request to Brent Council and as you can see the response still gives no details of the results of the consultation but does say the Islamia  Governing Board and the Council are working togather to 'consider mitigations measures'. What they are mitigating remains a secret.

The Council also fails to answer the question about the opening date of Islamia on the new site. As statutory consultation has not yet started the original date, negotiated with the Yusuf Islam Foundation looks most unlikely as either complete demolition and new build, or partial refurbishment and a new block, were proposed for the site.

This is the formal response to the FoI:

Details of the outcome of the public consultation on the proposed move of Islamia Primary School that was completed in November 2022.

The informal consultation that ran until November 2022 was managed by the Governing Board of Islamia Primary School. The responses and the concerns raised have been considered by the Governing Board and the Governing Board has been working with the local authority to consider mitigation measures. At this point in time, the Governing Board has not made a decision to proceed to statutory consultation.
 
2. Update on when the school will move and operate on its new site
(previously proposed for September 2024).

Operation of Islamia Primary School from the proposed Strathcona site will depend on the timing and outcome of the statutory process to relocate the  school and the completion of required capital investment works, should a decision be made following any statutory consultation to proceed with the relocation.

3. Update on any statutory consultation.
Statutory Consultation will be managed by the Governing Board of Islamia Primary School. 

As well as the above FoI I  submitted an additional FoI to Islamia Primary School itself on May 11th, This is due to be answered by June 9th.

Please provide the following information:

1.The outcome of the consultation on the proposed move of Islamia Primary School to the Strathcona site to open in September 2024 and copies of the breakdown of the consultation result.

2. Copies of all correspondence with the Yusuf Islam Foundation and Brent Council regarding the eviction notice on the school and the subsequent search for alternative premises, survey/s of the Strathcona site and refurbishment/new build proposals.

3. Up to date information on the current pupil numbers in the school by year group.

4. Current pupil mobility rates by year group since September 2022.

Lack of transparency on Islamia Primary School move is becoming a scandal

 The consultation on the move of Islamia Primary School from its Queens Park site finished in November 2022 and since then there has been a wall of silence from the Yusif Islam Foundation, the school and Brent Council. The school is due to move in September 2024 after refurbishment and new build on the former Strathcona site in Preston ward.

The result is anger, frustration and rumour from parents and community.

I have lodged an FoI result with Brent Council to try and get some very basic information LINK:

Dear Brent Borough Council,

Please provide:

1. Details of the outcome of the public consultation on the proposed move of Islamia Primary School that was completed in November 2022.
2. Update on when the school will move and operate on its new site (previously proposed for September 2024).
3. Update on any statutory consultation.

The Twitter account  Dignity Custodians has been very vocal from the beginning of the relocation proposals. 

Hello

@YusufCatStevens

a member of staff told parents that the Foundation planned to use vacated premises for the independent schools & a feeder primary school. Is this why you want

@IslamiaPrimary

as far away as possible? #Strathcona #Profit

@WembleyMatters

@Brent_Council

 

This confirms what a member of the governing body told a group of parents 3 years ago when there were attempts to turn the school into a one Form Entry and give priority to siblings of pupils attending the independent schools which was in breach of the #AdmissionsCode.

 

This GB member also said that

@Brent_Council

gave Islamia a "poor" catchment area and suggested Somali parents open their own school. The school's admissions policy has recently been found " unlawful and discriminatory " by the #OSA. Parents have reasons to fear discrimination.

Brent Council refuses Freedom of Information request on the controversial move of Islamia Primary School from Queens Park to Preston ward

 

At the recent public meeting about the move of Islamia Primary School to Preston ward, Brent Council officers promised to be open and transparent about the move.

However, a Freedom of Information request, by a concerned Islamia parent, has been refused on the grounds that to comply would constitute an unreasonable amount of work.

This is unfortunate on such a controversial issue as it will suggest to some of those involved that the council, or other parties, have something to hide.

In this case the public interest demands a full answer from Brent Council.

The correspondence LINK

Dear Brent Borough Council,

Following the eviction of Islamia Primary school by the Yusuf Islam Foundation and the proposal by Brent Council to move the school to the Roe Green Strathcona site , l am writing to make a FOI request.

Copies of all emails exchanged relating to the matter: 

-Between Brent Council, Council members and the The Yusuf Islam Foundation.
-Emails between Brent Council officers and members regarding proposal.
-Emails between Brent Council officers and members and the Islamia Governing Board, and minutes of any meetings held between these parties. 

I would like these to go back to when the move was first suggested.

Yours faithfully,
J. Guled

 

Dear J. Guled

RE: Brent Council's proposal to move Islamia Primary school to Roe Green  Strathcona

Thank you for your FOI (Freedom of Information) received on  28/10/2022. Unfortunately, we are unable to deal with your enquiry for the  following reason:

Regulation 12(4)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 makes provision  for public authorities to refuse requests for information where the  request for information is manifestly unreasonable. In line with the  Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees)  Regulations 2004 this represents the estimated cost of one person spending  18 hours in determining whether the Council holds the information, locating, retrieving and extracting the information. We estimate that it  will take us in excess of 18 hours to locate all the emails requested,  review all the emails and determine whether or not the information can be  provided, giving due consideration to the data protection act and
excluding confidential information. Therefore, your request is refused.  

Further information about the Councils procedures can be found on the  Council's website: [3]https://www.brent.gov.uk/your-council/  
 

Alternatively, you may contact me using the contact details provided in
this correspondence.

Yours sincerely  

Shirley Parks

Director of Safeguarding, Partnerships and Strategy 

 

Dear Brent Borough Council,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Brent Borough Council's handling of my FOI request 'Brent Council's proposal to move Islamia Primary school to Roe Green Strathcona'.

You have calculated that gathering this information will exceed the cost limit, but I believe that this is an overestimation of the resource required.

I also believe that it is not unreasonable to request clarifications on how a Local Authority has come to the conclusion that a school it maintains should move over 6 miles away from its current location making it nearly impossible for current children to continue attending. This decision contravenes in many ways the Equality Act and it clearly poses safeguarding risks for primary age children. The consultation process is still ongoing therefore it is vital that this information is disclosed. It is in the public interest to share these emails and foster a transparent approach in decision making processes that will affect so many lives.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/brent_councils_proposal_to_move#incoming-2157180

 

Yours faithfully,

J. Guled

 

 

Residents' Association launch petition calling for Islamia Primary School move to Strathcona site to be stopped

 A second petition on the Islamia Primary School proposed move to the Strathcona site in Preston ward has been launched. This follows a petition in the summer by a group of Islamia parents that opposed the proposed site and called instead for the school to occupy the South Kilburn site earmarked for the merged Carlton Vale Infants and Kilburn Park Juior schools. That petition was signed by 509 people by the time it closed LINK.

The second petition is by South Kenton & Preston Park Residents' Association (SKPPRA) and appears on the Change website. It opposes the school based on the traffic and environmental impact and its affect on neighbouring school pupil numbers.  SKPPRA insist that their opposition is not based on the faith nature of the school and that they represent a multi-ethnic community.

The interests of the two sets of petitioners converge in terms of opposition to the site but the governing board and Brent Council insist that there is no alternative. Both Brent Council and the Yusuf Islam Foundation have searched for an alternative site in the borough and found none. Brent Council insist that the new South Kilburn site is an integral part of the estate regeneration and its expanding population and would be open to children of all faiths and none. In any case it would not be ready in time for occupation given the eviction deadline. The Islamia Primary Governing Board said that if Brent Council were, nevertheless, to provide that site they could try and persuade the Foundation to extend their occupancy for the required period.

The informal stage of the consultation on the move ends tomorrow. The Governing Board will then start the formal statutory consultation and report on its outcome. Brent Council officers will then  provide a report and recommendations for the Brent Cabinet who will make the final decision.

The petition can be found HERE and had 265 signatories at the time of writing.

The petition

Islamia Primary School, currently in Kilburn NW6 are being evicted and have been given two choices by Brent Council, to either close down or move to Strathcona Site HA9. The 6 mile move to this new site is not supported by the existing school parents, teachers, governors or the local residents of the new site.

A new school in the area will have serious environmental impact on the area causing pollution, lower air quality and damage to the climate, not forgetting health and safety concerns of the general public.  

Three existing schools near Strathcona site are already under subscribed and a new school will only exacerbate the situation.

We urge you to sign the petition so that Brent Council Cabinet Members can take this into consideration.

In a recent public meeting with Islamia Primary school the Local resident's state: "We want your school to stay open, but we don't want it here"!

Consultation period ends on 16th November 2022

Islamia Primary School move - minutes of September 12th Cabinet Meeting that set the process in motion

In view of the intense interest in the proposed move of Islamia Primary School to a site in Strathcona Road, Preston ward, I thought it might be useful to publish the minutes of the Cabinet Meeting of September 12 that set the process in motion:

 

This report details a proposal regarding the relocation of Islamia Primary School and seeks approval to the associated capital project business case and statutory consultation process.

Decision:

Cabinet NOTED the comments by Sofia Moussaoui, representing the Governing Body of Islamia Primary School, who had requested to speak on the report in relation to the future of Islamia Primary School. 

 

 In commenting on the proposals within the report she advised that the main aim of the Governing Body moving forward was to secure the future of Islamia Primary School.  As such she advised the Governing Body remained committed to ensure that the necessary funding and a suitable, viable alternative site was secured for the school.  This recognised the advice from the Council that the South Kilburn site identified as the preferred alternative by the parents who had signed the petition was not a viable option given the timing of its availability and allocated use.

 

In advance of the report being considered, Councillor Butt again assured the petitioners about the formal consultation that would need to be undertaken by the Governing Body, should the recommendations be agreed, along with the work being undertaken with the School and Governing Board in order to maintain and secure the schools future provision on the basis of the proposals identified.

 

Having noted the report, including the exempt information within the appendix, and the comments raised by the petitioners and Governing Body representatives at the meeting Cabinet RESOLVED:

 

(1)       To note the historical context and background set out in the report.

 

(2)       To note that the Yusuf Islam Foundation has issued eviction notices to its Voluntary Aided Islamia Primary School and that the future options for the school were for the school to either relocate or close.

 

(3)       To note the proposal to relocate Islamia Primary School to the Strathcona site as a 2FE school and agree to allocate up to £8.0m capital towards the total project costs of £10.0m, noting that the preferred option was estimated to cost £9.11m.

 

(4)       To approve the delegation of authority to agree pre-tender considerations, procure and award the necessary works contracts valued in excess of £5m to the Corporate Director Finances and Resources, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools and Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Reform.

 

(5)       To note that if the school relocated to the Strathcona school site, the site could be transferred into the name of the Yusuf Islam Foundation who would be required to hold the site for the benefit of the Islamia Primary School. Further details in terms of ownership would be set out in a Trust Deed. This would ensure that the primary school would be protected from eviction in future. (My emphasis)

 

(6)       To note that a statutory consultation process to allow the relocation of Islamia Primary School as a 2FE Primary School to the Strathcona site would need to be undertaken and that the Governing Board would be responsible for making this proposal through statutory consultation.

 

(7)       To acknowledge that, should the Strathcona site be used for Islamia Primary School, then an alternative site would be required to deliver Post-16 SEND provision.

Minutes:

Following on from consideration of the petition relating to Islamia Primary School, Councillor Muhammed Butt (Leader of the Council) advised that he had accepted a request to speak on the report from Sofia Moussaoui, representing the Governing Body at Islamia Primary School.  In commenting on the proposals within the report, Sofia Moussaoui advised that the main aim of the Governing Body moving forward was to secure the future of Islamia Primary School.  As such she advised the Governing Body remained committed to ensure that the necessary funding and a suitable, viable alternative site was secured for future provision of the school.  This recognised the advice from the Council that the South Kilburn site identified as the preferred alternative by the parents who had signed the petition was not a viable option given the timing of its availability and allocated use.

 

In advance of the report being considered, Councillor Muhammed Butt again assured the petitioners about the formal consultation that would need to be undertaken by the Governing Body, should the recommendations in the report be agreed, along with the work being undertaken with the School and Governing Board in order to maintain and secure the schools future provision on the basis of the proposals identified.

 

Councillor Gwen Grahl (Cabinet member for Children, Young People and Schools) then introduced the report which set out proposals for the relocation of Islamia Primary School.  In considering the report Cabinet noted the outline of options reviewed along with the capital project requirements and business case supporting the option to develop the former Strathcona school site as a two form entry site for the School.  The report also set out the statutory consultation requirements that would be required in order to deliver the project.  In thanking the petitioners and representatives of the school Governing Body for their comments, Councillor Grahl advised that she acknowledged the concerns and frustrations raised but, at the same time, felt it important to recognise the limited options available in relation to the availability of alternative sites to secure future provision of the school.  In terms of reference to the new school site within South Kilburn, confirmation was provided that this had already been allocated for use as a replacement for Carlton Vale Infant and Kilburn Park Junior School as part of the wider South Kilburn regeneration masterplan with the new school also not available until September 2026.  Members noted it would also not therefore be available as a viable option on the basis of the timing, given Islamia Primary School were required to vacate their current site by the end of July 2024.

 

Taking this into account, members were advised of the significant effort which had gone into development of the Strathcona site as a viable alternative for the school along with the assurance of the Council’s continued commitment to work with the school and parents in order to ensure a smooth transition, should the proposal be approved, including on how best to facilitate travel and access particularly for more vulnerable pupils.

 

In recognising that the preference identified by the petitioners for allocation of the new school site in South Kilburn was not a viable option, members supported the efforts being made to safeguard the long term future of the school working with the Governing Body and Trust in terms of the provision of a suitable permanent site that could be developed to accommodate the school and on which it would be possible for parents to contribute and outline their views as part of the statutory consultation process.

 

Having considered the report, including the exempt information within Appendix A, and the comments raised by the petitioners and Governing Body representatives at the meeting Cabinet RESOLVED:

 

(1)      To note the historical context and background set out in the report.

 

(2)      To note that the Yusuf Islam Foundation has issued eviction notices to its Voluntary Aided Islamia Primary School and that the future options for the school were for the school to either relocate or close.

 

(3)      To note the proposal to relocate Islamia Primary School to the Strathcona site as a 2FE school and agree to allocate up to £8.0m capital towards the total project costs of £10.0m, noting that the preferred option was estimated to cost £9.11m.

 

(4)      To approve the delegation of authority to agree pre-tender considerations, procure and award the necessary works contracts valued in excess of £5m to the Corporate Director Finances and Resources, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools and Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Reform.

 

(5)      To note that if the school relocated to the Strathcona school site, the site could be transferred into the name of the Yusuf Islam Foundation who would be required to hold the site for the benefit of the Islamia Primary School. Further details in terms of ownership would be set out in a Trust Deed. This would ensure that the primary school would be protected from eviction in future.

 

(6)      To note that a statutory consultation process to allow the relocation of Islamia Primary School as a 2FE Primary School to the Strathcona site would need to be undertaken and that the Governing Board would be responsible for making this proposal through statutory consultation.

 

(7)     To acknowledge that, should the Strathcona site be used for Islamia Primary School, then an alternative site would be required to deliver Post-16 SEND provision.

Supporting documents:

• 07. Future of Islamia Primary School.docx, item 8. PDF 484 KB
• Restricted enclosure View the reasons why document 8./2 is restricted