FAQ

No, at this stage no decisions on the closure of Raine’s or the expansion of Oaklands School has been made and the public meetings provide an opportunity for parents, staff, the Raines Foundation Trust, pupils and members of the local community to ask questions and express their views on the proposals outlined in the consultation document.

All the views received, either at the meetings or separately in writing, will be considered prior to a decision being taken as to whether to go ahead with the proposal.

36 children were offered a place at Raine’s on the 1 March. So far the parents of:

• 19 have received and accepted offers at alternative preference schools
• 8 are awaiting offers at alternative preference schools
• 7 have accepted the LA’s offer of a place at Oaklands
• 2 have not yet confirmed whether they will accept the offer a place at Oaklands or would like to apply for a place elsewhere.

The LA and Diocese maintain that Raine’s would not be able to provide for efficient and appropriate education for such a small intake of pupils.

Parents can still take up the place in Year 7 at Raine’s Foundation School for the 2019/20 academic. However, they have been made aware that there is a significant risk that the year group may be very small. If that proves to be the case, Raine’s may exercise its management powers to provide the education for those children at the site of an alternative school, to enable them to receive a full curriculum.

Final decision following statement of recommendations

The statement of recommendations of the Tower Hamlets Community Governance Review 2018-19 was issued under sections 93 & 96 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.

At a meeting of Tower Hamlets Council on 17 July 2019, the council considered the final recommendations thus concluding the community governance review and is now publishing the decision made in accordance with sections 93(7) and 96(2) of the 2007 Act.

Background to the final statement of recommendations and decision

The final recommendations were presented to  Tower Hamlets Council (‘the council’) following a community governance review (‘the review’) carried out in the two wards of Spitalfields & Banglatown and Weavers following receipt of a valid petition from 324 local residents on 23 July 2018.

The review took 12 months and included two consultation periods undertaken in this time.

Details of the review and results of the subsequent consultations undertaken can be found on the council’s ‘past consultations’ webpage.

Decision

Following the review, the final recommendations were made under section 87(1) of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007. ‘A community governance review must make recommendations as to what new parish or parishes (if any) should be constituted in the area under review.’

At Full Council held on 17 July 2019, the council determined that there will not be any change to existing community governance arrangements within the wards of Spitalfields & Banglatown and Weavers and that a parish should not be constituted in the area.

The council makes no further recommendations in connection with this community governance review.

The full rationale for this decision and supporting documentation is set out in detail in the report to Full Council on 17 July 2019. These can be found on the council’s meetings webpage.

In summary, the council considers that: 

1. There is not significant support for the creation of a parish council, either within the area or within the broader community.
2. A parish would not be reflective of the identity and interests of the whole community.
3. The creation of a parish would be likely to damage community cohesion both within the area and between the area and other parts of the borough.
4. A parish council would not be an effective and convenient form of local governance and would not be best placed to deliver quality services efficiently and effectively.
5. There is the potential for a significant additional financial cost to local residents from the precept raised by a parish council with a particular concern that this could have a greater impact on people living on lower incomes.

Issued on 19 July 2019