Two schools in Tower Hamlets are set to merge from September 2025. Globe Primary School and Rachel Keeling Nursery School in Bethnal Green will amalgamate to become an all-through primary school for children aged 3 to 11 years old.
The new school will keep the name of the existing Globe Primary School, and will see Rachel Keeling Nursery close this August, though the actual school site will stay open as it’s set to become the nursery provision for the new school.
The Tower Hamlets Cabinet approved the plans on Wednesday evening (April 30) after a consultation found 94per cent of people were in support of the plans. During the Cabinet meeting, Maium Talukdar, who is Lead Member for Education, Youth and Lifelong Learning, said: “The consultation process has been thorough, transparent and inclusive with the majority of respondents strongly in favour of the proposal.
“The amalgamation is supported by both governing bodies and is designed to improve sustainability, maximise resources and protect high quality early years provision in the borough.”
During the consultation process, parents and those from the local community recognised the importance of Rachel Keeling Nursery, which is seen as an outstanding and vital resource that must be protected amid declining birth rates and financial pressures.
Those in support of the plans also viewed it as ‘a practical solution’ to sustain both schools by enhancing financial stability, increasing nursery places and optimising space. Those who were against the plans were concerned the amalgamation would result in a potential loss of a ‘small-scale environment’ for Globe Nursery children, and raised concerns over practical challenges such as managing school runs.
The council’s response to the plans were also published in the consultation, and said: “Both schools’ nursery provisions are recognised as outstanding, and the governors and school leadership view the purpose-built facilities at Rachel Keeling as an exceptional opportunity to benefit all children.
“Staff from both institutions are enthusiastic about collaborating and believe the expansive garden at Rachel Keeling represents a significant enhancement over the limited outdoor nursery space at Globe.”
The schools previously told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) in a joint statement: “The proposal to merge Globe Primary and Rachel Keeling Nursery Schools aims to provide smoother transitions for children and make better use of resources and staff across both educational settings.
“Joining the two sites will also help to ensure high-quality education is maintained and make the nursery provision more financially sustainable. We are committed to supporting staff and families throughout the process to make any transition as smooth as possible.”
Following Cabinet approval on Wednesday evening, the school merger will come into effect from September 1.
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