Newham Council is proposing the merger of Odessa Infant School and St James' Junior School to create a new primary school, according to a recent Officer Key Decision meeting. The amalgamation aims to ensure the continuation of strong educational outcomes currently seen at both schools .

The decision, agreed to by Laura Eden, Corporate Director of Children and Young People, will see a pre-statutory consultation take place regarding the amalgamation. The final decision will be made by the Cabinet following a formal consultation period. If approved, the technical closure of Odessa Infant School and the establishment of the enlarged primary school would occur in August 2026.

The proposal aims to address a growing budget deficit at Odessa Infant School, despite stable pupil numbers. According to the Public Reports Pack, this deficit is partly due to an increase in pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and insufficient funding. The report states that without the amalgamation, it would not be possible for Odessa Infant School to recover its accumulated deficit without significantly compromising the quality of education, including for children with special educational needs and disabilities . The report states that following a review of all options, to help sustain and maintain the school's financial stability, the only viable solution is an amalgamation with the neighbouring St. James' Junior School, which is Voluntary Controlled and not forecasting a deficit.

Without the amalgamation, Odessa Infant School faces significant financial challenges and potential closure, which would have substantial financial implications for the local authority. The amalgamation aims to ensure financial sustainability and maintain high-quality education by avoiding duplicated costs.

To address potential concerns from parents and the community regarding the loss of Odessa Infant School's identity, the council plans to conduct a pre-statutory consultation where all stakeholders, including parents, can give their views before any final decision is made. This is mentioned in section 7.5 of the Public Reports Pack: If the pre-statutory consultation is agreed, all stakeholders including the Diocese of Chelmsford, staff, governors and parents/carers at both Odessa Infant and St. James' junior schools would be able to give their views during pre-statutory consultation, before any final decision making on amalgamation.

Several financial options were considered for the amalgamated school. Option B, which reduces expenditure, is currently considered the most viable, with projected in-year surpluses ranging from £272k to £300k between 2026/27 and 2028/29, leading to a projected closing surplus of £418k by 2028/29. The implications of this option for staffing and resources are not detailed in the provided text.

The amalgamation process will follow a five-stage process as outlined in the DfE's (Department for Education) statutory guidance: Opening and closing maintained schools 2024.

The council is legally required to consult with appropriate parties before publishing proposals to close a maintained school, as stated in s 16(2) Education and Inspections Act 2006. Published proposals must contain information about how the local authority believe the proposals are likely to lead to improvements in the standard, quality and/or range of the educational provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

Alternative options, such as Odessa Infant School joining a multi-academy trust (MAT), were deemed unrealistic due to the school's existing budget deficit. The do nothing option was also rejected because it would likely result in a growing budget deficit.

The proposal aligns with the council's policy of Building a Fairer Newham, specifically Priority 6, which supports young people.