Brent Council's Cabinet has approved moving forward with formal consultation on the amalgamation of Roe Green Infant School and Roe Green Junior School, a move aimed at creating a single primary school catering for children aged 3 to 11.
If approved, Roe Green Junior School would close, and Roe Green Infant School would expand its age range and be renamed Roe Green Primary School. The proposal received overwhelming support during an informal consultation, with 93.1% of respondents agreeing with the plan. The amalgamation is planned to take effect from September 2027.
Councillor Jake Rubin, Cabinet Member for Children's Services, Employment and Climate Action, explained that the amalgamation would simplify the educational journey for parents and children, eliminating the need for reapplication for Year 3 entry. Children currently attending Roe Green Junior School will be transferred to the roll of Roe Green Primary School. While parents of children in Year 2 during the 2026/27 academic year would still be expected to make applications for a place at Roe Green Junior School for September 2027, if the amalgamation is completed by September 2027, any parent/carer who received a Year 3 offer for Roe Green Junior School would be able to arrange admission for their child at Roe Green Primary School. From September 2027, applications for Year 3 would be made via in-year applications only, as co-ordinated admissions for Year 3 would cease. The amalgamation aims to provide a seamless learning journey with continuity in curriculum, teaching approaches, and pastoral care.
The proposal involves expanding the age range of Roe Green Infant School to admit children aged between 3 and 11, utilizing the existing buildings and site. While the schools would share one building, it is likely that Early Years and Key Stage 1 pupils would initially continue to be taught on the former infant school site, with Key Stage 2 pupils on the former junior school site, though future changes to site usage are possible. The curriculum and teaching approaches would be unified under one vision, aiming for a seamless learning experience.
Concerns raised by a small number of respondents regarding potential funding loss and staffing impacts have been addressed. The amalgamation is expected to lead to cost savings through economies of scale, such as eliminating the need for two headteacher salaries and consolidating commissioned services. While the combined school may receive less funding than the two separate schools combined due to the national funding formula consolidating lump sum allocations, this is seen as a consequence of the formula operating as intended, reflecting reduced costs. The report states that the reduction in funding would be managed through economies of scale and that efficiencies would be reinvested to benefit children. Transitional protection for funding is expected for the first two financial years following amalgamation, with a reduction in the lump sum allocation of approximately £52,368 in the first full financial year (2028/29) and potentially up to £104,736 in the second financial year (2029/30), subject to Department for Education approval. From the third year onwards, the full lump sum reduction would apply. Specific projected budget figures for the new Roe Green Primary School are not provided, only that the budget would be calculated in accordance with the Brent schools funding formula, which is based on an amount per pupil.
All staff employed at Roe Green Junior School would have their employment transferred to Roe Green Primary School. The proposal indicates that any future changes to the staffing structure would be determined by the new Governing Board, but it is explicitly stated that the amalgamation would not result in any job losses. The schools would share one headteacher and one senior leadership team, and staff would work across all age groups within the school. Roe Green Junior School currently has two vacancies in its Senior Leadership Team, which is considered a favorable time for amalgamation.
Roe Green Infant School currently has a capacity of 120 places per year group (four forms of entry) and has 347 pupils on roll. Roe Green Junior School also has a capacity of 120 places per year group and has 460 pupils on roll. The proposed amalgamated school, Roe Green Primary School, would continue to provide 120 places per year group, resulting in a total capacity of 840 places for Reception to Year 6.
The long-term strategic goal for the amalgamated Roe Green Primary School is to provide high-quality teaching and learning for all pupils in a nurturing environment, fostering a deeper sense of shared purpose through a unified school identity and culture. This amalgamation aligns with Brent Council's Borough Plan Strategic Priority 4: 'The Best Start in Life,' by ensuring sufficient school places and supporting every child to access local, high-quality education.
The formal consultation process involves the publication of a statutory notice in the Brent and Kilburn Times, on the Brent Council website, and displayed physically on the school gate. Stakeholders will be invited to submit written representations for a period of four weeks. After this period, Cabinet is required to make a final decision on the proposal within two months. The feedback collected during the informal consultation was considered by officers and the governing bodies, with the majority of respondents supporting the proposal. Concerns raised were addressed in the report, and suggestions for improving after-school provision and support for pupils with additional needs were noted as matters for the amalgamated school leadership to address.
The final decision will be made by Cabinet on 7 December 2026. The amalgamation is planned to take effect from September 2027. See the Public reports pack for Monday 07 September 2026.
