Home FAQs
SECTION MENU

FAQ

FAQsRSS FeedAtom Feed

Answer:
An amalgamation would bring together two (or more) maintained schools as one single school, located on the same site and under the same leadership and governance arrangements. Amalgamation would reduce the number of surplus places in the area and ensure that the resulting school would have a stronger pupil roll and improved sustainability. The earliest that an amalgamation could be implemented is the 2020/21 school year and there may be a transitional period for all of the schools concerned.

Staff

For staff, amalgamation will mean that they effectively work in a new school. It would be for the school leaders and governing bodies to agree on the ethos and approach of this new school. It could mean a change of location, depending on which school site the ‘new’ school occupies.

Governors

For governors, an amalgamation would mean that the schools’ individual governing bodies are disbanded and a new single over-arching governing body is formed to support the new school. The individual governing bodies would need to work together to agree the ethos, approach, and governance structure of the new school. The LA will work closely with governing bodies of schools affected to help them decide on the process and the best governance structures moving forward.

Parents and pupils

For parents and pupils, it would mean the effective closure of the existing schools and the creation of a new school with greater resources to invest in teaching and learning as well as extra-curricular activities. Pupils attending the existing schools would continue on at the new school which may mean a change of location, depending on which school site the ‘new’ school occupies. Amalgamations will be considered carefully to minimise impact on school communities, including considerations of distance to school, availability of places and faith school preferences.

Wider community

For the wider community, it would also mean the effective closure of the existing schools and the creation of a new school onto one of the existing sites. This will enable the local authority to ensure that:

  1. children across the borough continue to receive a high quality education
  2. children have access to a suitable school place in their local area
  3. the local authority is using public resources efficiently and effectively to deliver the best outcomes for children and families and
  4. to provide opportunity for school sites to be used to support other activities to promote learning in the community.
Answer:
Future housing development will be focused in the east of the borough and to meet an increasing demand for school places, the local authority has identified nine potential sites in the Poplar and Isle of Dogs catchment areas to deliver new primary schools. 

There is a facility for the local authority or governing body of a maintained school to propose the transfer of an existing school into a new site, rather than commission a new provider.

This would mean an existing school could retain its staff and other key resources to provide continuity of existing high quality provision, serving a new community in Tower Hamlets. This would also reduce the number of surplus places in the schools existing community, and help to strengthen the rolls at other schools.

The earliest a school could relocate into a new site would be the 2022/23 school year, based on the availability of new school sites. Relocations would also involve a transitional period over a number of years so that pupils would not be forced to move to a new location at critical stages in their education.

Staff

For staff, this would mean the need to eventually relocate to a different area of the borough if they intended to stay at the school, although the transition over to the new school site will likely be phased over a number of years. Staff would benefit from working in a newly built school and would have greater job security through working in a school with increased sustainability. Alternatively, the local authority will work closely with neighbouring schools to maximise the opportunities for staff to transfer to another school that is near the existing site.

Governors

For governors, the relocated school will provide opportunity for the school’s existing governance structure to continue, however consideration will need to be given to a governance structure which is representative of the new community that the school will serve. There may also be a need to increase the size of the governing body in accordance with the size of the school in its new location. The local authority will work closely with governing bodies of schools affected to help them decide on the process and the best governance structures moving forward.

Parents and pupils

For parents and pupils, the relocation of a school will be timed in such a way that it does not significantly disrupt the education of existing pupils as they move between the key stages. There would also the opportunity for existing pupils to continue at the school in its new location with the local authority providing the necessary travel assistance in line with its statutory obligations.

Wider community

For the school’s existing community, it would mean the effective closure of the school in that area, however this would help to strengthen the rolls at other schools and in turn help to improve the quality of education. The school’s new community within the borough will benefit from the delivery of much-needed, high-quality school places in their local area.

Answer:
It is important that all stakeholders have an opportunity to fully consider the proposals, ask questions, share their views and raise any concerns they may have.

The intention is to consult with headteachers early in the Summer term. After this, there will be individual consultations for each school (or group of schools) where changes are being proposed. Separate events will be held at the school for staff and parents.

Once this first round of consultation is completed, the resulting proposals will be presented to Cabinet in Autumn 2019 with a recommendation to formally consult. If agreed, the statutory public consultation would commence soon after and would include further events, meetings with the wider community, and a survey.

The results from these consultations would be reported back to Cabinet with final recommendations. Cabinet will make the final decision on the proposals.

Answer:

The earliest any changes can be implemented will be the 2020/21 school year, however the timescales for implementation will depend on the particular proposals and the circumstances under which they can be lawfully implemented.

Answer:
Although the Primary Review is aimed at reducing the number of places in certain areas of the borough, any changes will not affect the local authority’s ability to ensure that it provides enough school places. The aim is to reach a position where the local authority and schools are confident that the right provision is in the right place at the right time.
Answer:

The Primary Review is likely to include proposals for formal partnerships between schools, such as federations, as this can help to improve educational opportunities and pupil outcomes through:

  1. a better, broader offer for pupils – both curricular and extra-curricular
  2. better recruitment, succession planning and retention of staff
  3. more resources and opportunity to employ specialist staff
  4. more Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for staff and opportunities to learn from one another and 
  5. a greater capacity to innovate.

Partnerships will be necessary for schools to maximise their available resources and sustain high quality education given the future funding challenges.

Answer:

The local authority is committed to developing solutions together with schools. Before starting the review, the local authority established the Primary Review Advisory Group which is includes headteachers from all sectors, as well as representatives from diocesan boards, the Council of Mosques, the Greater London Authority, the office of the Regional Schools Commissioner and the early years sector. The role of the advisory group is to advise on the review process and assist in reviewing options for change.

Through this group, an agreed set of evaluation criteria was used to identify which schools would be in scope for review. The primary criteria were a school’s level of surplus places and parental preferences, but other factors such as a school’s building and educational offer were also considered. 16 primary schools were identified as in scope for review across the Bethnal Green, Wapping and Stepney catchment areas.

The local authority is working in partnership with the leaders of these schools to develop possible solutions throughout the Autumn and Spring terms. This work is being led by an independent consultant who is an experienced headteacher, governor and former Director of Children’s Services. Through discussions with the schools in scope, some ideas have been put forward for partnerships with other schools not identified as ‘in scope’ (for example, secondary schools) and these schools are also being involved in this work.

Once proposals have been developed by the local authority and school leaders, the local authority will consult with stakeholders throughout the Summer and Autumn 2019 terms. The proposals and consultation results will be presented to Cabinet who will make the final decision.e local authority is committed to developing solutions together with schools. Before starting the review, the local authority established the Primary Review Advisory Group which is includes headteachers from all sectors, as well as representatives from diocesan boards, the Council of Mosques, the Greater London Authority, the office of the Regional Schools Commissioner and the early years sector. The role of the advisory group is to advise on the review process and assist in reviewing options for change.

Through this group, an agreed set of evaluation criteria was used to identify which schools would be in scope for review. The primary criteria were a school’s level of surplus places and parental preferences, but other factors such as a school’s building and educational offer were also considered. 16 primary schools were identified as in scope for review across the Bethnal Green, Wapping and Stepney catchment areas.

The local authority is working in partnership with the leaders of these schools to develop possible solutions throughout the Autumn and Spring terms. This work is being led by an independent consultant who is an experienced headteacher, governor and former Director of Children’s Services. Through discussions with the schools in scope, some ideas have been put forward for partnerships with other schools not identified as ‘in scope’ (for example, secondary schools) and these schools are also being involved in this work.

Once proposals have been developed by the local authority and school leaders, the local authority will consult with stakeholders throughout the Summer and Autumn 2019 terms. The proposals and consultation results will be presented to Cabinet who will make the final decision.

Answer:

Notice is hereby given under Section 87(2) of the Local Government Act 1972 that a casual vacancy exists for the office of Councillor for the Lansbury Ward in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

Requesting a by-election

A by-election is held when two local government electors within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets give notice in writing to the proper officer of the authority that a by election should take place.

Holding a by-election

On receipt of a request to fill the casual vacancy, the Returning Officer will set a date for an election to be held within 35 working days.Requests for a by-election regarding this casual vacancy should be submitted to the Proper Officer, Town Hall, 6th Floor, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, London E14 2BG

Will Tuckley
Returning Officer (Proper Officer)
Town Hall
6th Floor
Mulberry Place
5 Clove Crescent
London
E14 2BG

Answer:
  1. Forms of nomination for the borough by-election may be obtained from the Returning Officer at the Town Hall, 7th Floor, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, London, E14 2BG who will prepare a nomination paper for signature.
  2. Nomination papers must be delivered to the Returning Officer, Town Hall, 7th Floor, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, London, E14 2BG on any day after the date of this notice but no later than 4pm Friday 11 January 2019.
  3. If any election is contested the poll will take place on Thursday 7 February 2019.
  4. Applications to register to vote must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at the Town Hall, 7th Floor, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, London, E14 2BG by Tuesday 22 January 2019.
  5. Applications, amendments or cancellations of postal votes must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at Town Hall, 7th Floor, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, London, E14 2BG by 5pm Wednesday 23 January 2019.
  6. Applications to vote by proxy at this election must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at Town Hall, 7th Floor, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, London, E14 2BG by 5pm Wednesday 30 January 2019.
  7. Applications to vote by emergency proxy at this election, applied for on grounds of physical incapacity or work reasons occurring after 5pm on Wednesday, 30 January 2019, must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at Town Hall, 7th Floor, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, London, E14 2BG by 5pm Thursday 7 February 2019.

To apply for an emergency proxy on the grounds of physical incapacity or work reasons, the person must have become aware that they cannot go to the polling station in person after 5pm Wednesday 30 January 2019 and not before.

Answer:
Notice is hereby given under Section 87(2) of the Local Government Act 1972 that a casual vacancy exists for the office of Councillor for the Shadwell Ward in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

Requesting a by-election

A by-election is held when two local government electors within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets give notice in writing to the proper officer of the authority that a by election should take place.

Holding a by-election

On receipt of a request to fill the casual vacancy, the Returning Officer will set a date for an election to be held within 35 working days.
Requests for a by-election regarding this casual vacancy should be submitted to the Proper Officer, Town Hall, 6th Floor, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, London E14 2BG

Will Tuckley Returning Officer (Proper Officer)
Town Hall
6th Floor
Mulberry Place
5 Clove Crescent
London
E14 2BG

Displaying 151 to 160 of 640
Previous … 14 15 16 17 18 … Next