Teachers at the two Hillingdon schools are planning another strike over two days this week
A plan to merge two West London schools has sparked protests and anger with governors stating the amalgamation would have “no educational benefit” and could result in staff cuts.
Hillingdon Council revealed proposals to merge Harefield Infant School and Harefield Junior School earlier this year. The council says falling pupil numbers are behind the move and this will secure the school’s long-term future.
The council proposals would see the infant school closed, with the junior becoming a primary school.
But the schools’ governing body says it would result in a loss of £159,000 in funding, harm pupils’ education and may see redundancies. A protest was held last Wednesday (October 1) involving staff and parents, and the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) understands there are plans for more strikes this month if the proposals go ahead.
The governing body of both schools said in a statement: “We are strongly opposed to the proposed amalgamation of Harefield Infant and Junior Schools. Nearly 97% of almost 400 responses to the public consultation were also against the proposal — a clear message from our school community.
“The amalgamation offers no educational benefit to our pupils, as we have already achieved those through our successful federation. Instead, it would result in a £159,000 loss in funding, which could lead to unavoidable staffing cuts and reduce the quality of provision.
“Both schools are financially stable, and our current structure allows us to continue offering outstanding opportunities such as music, sport, and theatre, which were recently praised by Ofsted. We urge the council to listen to the overwhelming feedback and reconsider this proposal, which would harm rather than help the children of Harefield.”
The National Education Union (NEU) also says the plans will be harmful but Hillingdon Council claims the newly-formed primary “will deliver the same high quality level of education”.
Lucija Mc Auliffe, a teacher at one of the schools, says she is very worried about the council’s proposals. She said: “As teachers, we’re very worried that the proposed amalgamation will mean losing £159,000 in funding. That cut will have a real impact on all children and particularly those with SEND, who depend on extra support to reach their full potential.
“It’s also likely to lead to redundancies down the line, leaving fewer staff trying to do more with less. The result will be increased workloads, more pressure on teachers, and less time to give each child the attention they deserve. This is why we strongly oppose the amalgamation and are taking strike action — we are fighting to protect our schools and to secure the futures of the children we teach.”
At a Cabinet meeting on September 18, Councillor Susan O’Brien, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education, refuted claims that the land associated with the infant school was to be used for flats. She continued to explain that there will be no funding reduction for the schools until 2027/28.
Shortly after, Leader of the Council, Cllr Ian Edwards, added that there could be further amalgamations in the borough. He added: “As a council we need to look down the road, and ensure the sustainability of our schools in the longer term…
“Your recommendation from what I heard is based on that view, and recognising falling pupil numbers, the fact that this is part of a move that has happened elsewhere in our school estate, and quite possibly will happen elsewhere if the need arises.”
There is currently strike action proposed across two weeks in October. The dates are: Tuesday and Wednesday this week (October 7 and 8); and Tuesday, October 14 to Thursday, October 16. NEU members at the school voted 94 per cent in favour of industrial action.
Hillingdon Council said in a statement: “The council’s Cabinet decision on September 18 was made following our usual democratic processes with all consultation responses taken into consideration and an Equality Impact Assessment completed.
“The amalgamation will deliver the same high quality level of education, and while there will be an eventual reduction of the funding phased over two years, the schools will benefit from economies of scale efficiency savings and receive the same level of funding as all other primary schools in the borough. More importantly, in a context of declining school rolls, this change will ensure the schools’ long-term financial sustainability.
“In relation to the funding reduction, although the local authority is the employer, decision-making powers related to the employment of the staff at the schools and their day-to-day management are delegated to the Board of Governors. The local authority has no power to make staffing decisions, and therefore provide reassurances, on behalf of the school.”
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