Decision to amalgamate St Stephen’s and St Mary Magdalene's Church of England Primary Schools
More about the decision to amalgamate the two schools, what happens next, and the appeal process.
On 24 May 2023, the Cabinet Member for Young People, Learning and Leisure approved the amalgamation of St Stephen’s and St Mary Magdalene’s CE Primary Schools via individual executive decision.
Further to a call-in period and a request by the Policy and Scrutiny Committee Members to debate this decision on Monday 12 June, the decision stands and was formally determined on 13 June 2023.
This will mean that St Stephen’s CE Primary School will discontinue on 31 August 2023. The newly named and amalgamated St Mary Magdalene and St Stephen’s CE Primary School will take effect from 1 September 2023. Children attending the discontinued school have a guaranteed place at the new amalgamated school.
This decision follows:
- An initial four-week informal consultation led by the governing bodies of St Stephen’s and St Mary Magdalene’s CE Primary Schools from 16 January to 10 February 2023.
- The publication of a statutory notice on 28 March 2023.
- A six-week statutory consultation period ended on 5 May 2023, extended from the statutory four-week consultation period to six to accommodate the Easter break.
- A decision made on Tuesday 24 May 2023 by the Cabinet Member for Young People and Learning to approve and proceed with the amalgamation and to move forward to the implementation stage.
- A five-day call-in period on the decision to proceed with the proposed amalgamation he process of such key decisions allows for Policy and Scrutiny Committee Members to call in the decision and request a debate. Further to such a request, the Policy and Scrutiny Committee met on Monday 12 June 2023. The majority of the Committee Members voted that no further action should be taken by the Committee in relation to this decision.
- The decision by the Cabinet Member for Young People, Learning and Leisure to approve the amalgamation stands and will move forward to the implementation stage.
Cabinet Member and Committee Reports
The Cabinet Member Decision Report and background sets out the reasons for the amalgamation of St Stephen’s and St Mary Magdalene’s CE Primary Schools
Background documents
Appeal process
Although the decision has been made, there is a final appeal process outlined in the Department for Education’s statutory guidance on School Organisation.
Within four weeks from the date of the publication of this decision, Wednesday 14 June 2023, the following organisations can appeal within four weeks of the decision being taken:
- Diocesan Board of Education of any Church of England Diocese in the relevant area
- Bishop of any Roman Catholic church in the relevant area
- Governing Body of each school.
Appeals should be addressed to:
- Email: [email protected]
- Post: Head of School Place Planning and Access to Education Bi-borough Education Service, Kensington Town Hall, Hornton Street, London, W8 7NX
Appeals received by the Friday Wednesday 12 July 2023 will be referred to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator (OSA) by the local authority.
Published: 27 March 2023
Last updated: 11 March 2024