Proposal to expand Phoenix Arch Special School to Strathcona site to go to statutory consultation

Monday's Cabinet meeting will take the formal decision to move to a statutory consultation on the expansion of Phoenix Arch Special School at St Raphael's Estate to the vacant Strathcona site in Preston. The consultation will take place over just one month, June 29th to July 27th.

This follows an informal consultation that Brent Council say demonstrated support for the proposal.

 The Cabinet paper states:  

The proposal to expand the school is a response to increasing demand for special school places across the borough for children who present with autistic spectrum condition (ASC). The proposal, that has the support of the Governing Board, would use the expertise at Phoenix Arch Special School to provide for a larger cohort of children than presently.

The Strathcona site was previously used by Roe Green Infants School for primary classes at the time of rising primary school rolls. After closure it was considered as a site for Islamia Primary but this was not popular with parents and Islamia is due to open on the former Leopold site in Brentfield Road.

Phoenix currently has 55 pupils and Strathcona would provide 50 more places, doubling the size of the school. The two sites are some distance from each other and will provide some logistical challenges. 

As well as the consultation reported above there was also a public meeting attended by 30 people. The Cabinet paper reports the issues raised by both consultations:

The reasons respondents provided for supporting the proposal include:

 

 That it creates more places in specialist provision for children with SEND, of which there is currently a significant shortage in Brent. This will mean that children with SEND are not left to struggle in an education system that is not tailored to their needs.

 That it will provide dedicated spaces for children with complex sensory and behavioural needs which can make mainstream settings unsuitable for these children.

 That it will provide for a variety of therapeutic interventions to take place.

 That Phoenix Arch School has a proven track record of delivering excellent outcome for students, evidenced by various anecdotal testimonies.

 That Phoenix Arch is well-run and has a good understanding of the children it supports.

 That it will create jobs and provide opportunities for staff development.

 The view that 50 additional spaces was positive, but it may be insufficient to meet need.

 The proposal being an opportunity to provide a range of provisions, including sensory calming areas within classrooms; therapeutic spaces outside of classrooms; safe playground equipment in outside space; space for Year 6 students who may not transition to mainstream to get used to changing classes; spaces for assessment and therapy.

 

 Concerns raised, primarily at the public consultation meeting, include:

 

 that the proposal would increase noise levels during school hours which would reduce the peaceful character of the neighbourhood.

 that the proposal would lead to an increase in traffic on local roads around the Strathcona site and that the increase in traffic could consequently lead to an increase in air pollution.

 that the proposal could lead to a rise in unsafe parking, which could raise risks for pedestrians and other road users.

 that access to Wembley Commercial Centre should remain unrestricted 24/7 and that proximity to Wembley Commercial Centre would lead to increased noise levels within the school, which could negatively impact students with additional needs who may be particularly sensitive to their surroundings.

 concerns that the satellite site could be expanded further in years to come

 

The Council's response is documented in the Officers' Report HERE 

 

TIMELINE

 

 

Brent Cabinet approves recommendations on statutory process to consult on Islamia Primary move to Brentfield Road site.

A report to Brent Cabinet this morning set out the statutory consultation process that the Governing Board of Islamia Primary School would need to follow to undertake consultation on a proposal to relocate to the Gwenneth Rickus site in 2027.

Officers recommended that Cabinet:

·      notes the historical context and background set out in this report.

·      notes that the Yusuf Islam Foundation (YIF) has issued eviction notices to its Voluntary Aided Islamia Primary School and that the future options for the school are for the school to either relocate or close.

·      notes the proposal to relocate Islamia Primary School to the Gwenneth Rickus site as a 2FE school, subject to statutory consultation.

·      notes that the Governing Board would be responsible for making this proposal through statutory consultation, with Cabinet the final decision-maker.

·      notes that if the school relocated to the Gwenneth Rickus site, the site could be transferred into the name of the YIF, 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.

The proposed site in Brentfield Road, near the Swaminarayan Mandir, is currently occupied by Leopold Primary School, which is based on two sites, Harlesden and Brentfield Road. The latter is due to close with all children to be accommodated on the Harlesden site. Previously the site was used by Brent Teachers Centre and before that, Sladebrook School.

As set out above, the site would no longer belong to Brent Council.

Cllr Gwen Grahl, Lead Member, said the proposal was the only alternative to closure for this popular and effective school. It was a 'realistic and viable' option that would protect the school from eviction threats.

The school's sibling policy and borough wide catchment would remain in place.

Cllr Muhammed Butt, Leader of the Council, said that since he began as a councillor in 2006, there had been issues with Islamia because it existed on two sites with pupils having to cross a busy road during the school day, 'Now they will have a place that they can call home.'

 A legal paper on the proposal was withheld from publication.

The Cabinet Paper is available HERE

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.