Four more primaries are to amalgamate with neighbouring schools as Southwark Council fights to stabilise its crumbling primary education system, the News can reveal.
Despite this paper’s enquiries, Southwark Council would not say which schools are threatened, nor when the amalgamations would take place.
Southwark Council has recommended these changes to plug a £2.8 million funding shortfall and reduce the number of schools in a budget deficit, of which there were twelve as of January.
The crisis of falling admissions is happening across London, and has been attributed to declining birth rates, covid-19, Brexit and regeneration.
Primary schools get funding on a per-pupil basis so, with rolls falling, schools have been left scrambling for cash.
The council has also recommended that between six and seven primary schools reduce their pupil admission number (PAN) so undersubscribed schools can their fill pupil vacancies.
Once again, Southwark Council would not say which schools specifically. Parents are urged to enquire with their children’s schools on an individual basis.
Southwark schools boss Cllr Jasmine Ali (pictured) said: “We know that change can be unsettling, that is why our education team will continue to be here to support teachers, parents and pupils through any changes as a result of this work. However, we expect the outcome of our strategy to be a positive one, and the best it can be, with schools in a strong position to continue to provide a superb education to children in Southwark. I can reassure everyone that we always put the best interests of children and their education first.”
The schools crisis saga began in June 2022, when a bombshell council briefing paper revealed that sixteen Southwark primary schools were in financial crisis. That number has since fallen to twelve.
Since then, Townsend Primary School, Walworth, has been earmarked for closure and St Francesca Cabrini, Nunhead, will close in September.
To prevent the collapse of more primary schools, Southwark Council ratified its schools strategy in December last year.
It outlined a policy of working with schools to manage their pupil admissions, and use amalgamations and closures as a last resort.
Southwark’s announcement that a flurry of schools will have to amalgamate is the product of that strategy.
A Southwark Council spokesperson said: “We can now report that after a period of intense, meticulous and sensitive work with schools to assess the overall outlook for their future… it is recommended that four schools amalgamate with neighbouring schools and a further six to seven schools reduce their PAN.”
Southwark Council has consistently refused to tell the News which schools are at risk of closure, saying it is down to the schools to make this information public.
It argues that a premature announcement could disrupt individual schools’ plans, and prompt parents to remove their children, worsening depleted rolls.
But parents often say that communication is lacking and that they are the last to find out that their children’s schools are at risk.
Parents at Cobourg Primary School were furious last month when they received a letter saying the school was set to close having received no prior warning.
In some instances children – some as young as seven – learned of the recommended closure before their parents did.
Mum Dion Gould, 42, whose child attended Cobourg, said: “They gave us short notice in terms of them deciding to make a decision to close the school.
“I just feel they’ve done it so suddenly. Now we’re getting a letter saying we can no longer send our kids there. Nobody’s giving us any information.”
All school closures and amalgamations must follow a statutory consultation process before the cabinet makes its financial decision.
This gives parents and other stakeholders a chance to share their views on the plans but, ultimately, Southwark Council gets the final say.