Yesterday the Brent Cabinet, as expected approved the proposal to move Islamia Primary School to the ex-Leopold Primary site in Brentfield Road, Neasden.
The Swaminarayan Temple apparently put a spanner in the works in a representation but unfortunately there was a technical hitch in the recording so it cannt be viewed on the webcast.
The gist seemed to be that the proposal was detrimental as the site formed part of a Master Plan for the area devised by Swaminarayan involving the Temple and its car park the ex-Swaminaryan/Sladebrook School building (currently empty), and the Gwynneth Rickus Leopold building. They proposed buying the latter and leasing it to Islamia Primary pending any redevelopment. This would have encountered difficulty because any change of use from education would require the permission of the Secretary of State. It would go against the guarantee of stability provided by Brent Council and the Islam Yusuf Foundation when Brent Counil hands the site over to the latter.
The Foundation offered the Temple a seat on the Governing Board of Islamia Primary School to ensure good community relations between the Hindu and Muslim communities.
Islamia Primary School's new site
Moving the proposal to move Islamia to the Gwenneth Rickus building, Cllr Grahl, lead member for schools said:
We've done a really good consultation. Borth informal and formal processes showed really strong support ffrom families and the wider community. We've hadd 50 responses in the formal consultation that were fullt supportive, many people saying the move was long overdue. Parents highlighted how the proposal would bring children together under one roof, improve learning outcomes and safeguard theeducatioal offer the school has.
Of course rhere have also been concerns raised. We will continue to listen and we're happy to work woth local schools, residents and comunity groups.
An education officer said the Authority thought thate there would be no threat to the rolls of neigbouring schools as Islamia had a wider catchment area. However, it was pointed out that Stonebridge Ward has one of the highest Muslim populations in the borough.
It has been very hard to get details of the result of the informal consultation but I don't think it was as supportive as claimed. Islamia School did not respond to an FoI request for details.
The Cabinet Decision Record:
Prior to considering the report, Cabinet noted the representatives received from Jitu Patel (as Chair of the Board of Trustees representing BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir - Neasden Temple) accompanied by Girish Patel (as a separate Trustee) and Zafar Ashraf (Executive Director - Yusuf Islam Foundation).
In highlighting the position of the Board of Trustees, Jitu Patel outlined their interest in the Gwenneth Rickus site as a key component in their long-term vision for the area along with the representations made in response to the statutory consultation and alternative offer to acquire the site from Brent Council and grant a medium-term lease to Islamia School. As an alternative, should the decision be made to proceed with the proposed transfer of the site to the Yusuf Islam Foundation the Board of Trustees advised they would be seeking the opportunity, should the site no longer be required in future for educational purposes, for acquisition, subject to the necessary legal consents being obtained. In seeking a way forward, it was confirmed that the Board of Trustees remained committed to working collaboratively with the Council and the Yusuf Islam Foundation to create a model of co-operation, and to promote and protect faith-based educational provision and community use.
In terms of the position outlined by Zafar Ashraf (on behalf of the Yusuf Islam Foundation), members noted the long running and extensive work undertaken to identify options for future provision of Islamia Primary School (as the only Muslim faith voluntary aided school in the borough) with the proposal, as set out in the report, therefore supported as a viable solution that would meet the needs and approval of key stakeholders. Whilst aware of issues raised by the Board of Trustees representing BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir it was felt that these could be addressed working in collaboration including an invitation for a representative of the Board to join the Schools Governing Body as a Foundation Governor and confirmation that the new premises (subject to approval) would be made available for local community use outside of school hours for which the Foundation would be willing to engage with the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir regarding any needs they may have.
Having sought technical advice and assurance from officers at the meeting regarding the issues raised as part of the representations received and recognising the exhaustive nature of the process undertaken in seeking to identify a suitable site for relocation of the school, Cabinet RESOLVED:
(1) To note the outcome and analysis from the formal consultation.
(2) To approve the proposal to relocate Islamia Primary School to the Gwenneth Rickus site on Brentfield Road as a 2FE school from 1st September 2027.
(3) To note that the Gwenneth Rickus site would 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.
