The exodus of young families priced out by rising housing and childcare costs has left schools in some areas sitting empty. Schools rely on funding based on pupil numbers and face budget cuts or mergers with other sites to continue to provide education.
However, data released by councils on primary school offer day on Wednesday showed that fewer children in the capital have secured a place at their first choice of primary school despite the drop in demand for places.
Phoebe Oakley, a teacher at Highbury Quadrant Primary School in North London, fears the school could be developed into flats due to a lack of investment and falling pupil numbers.
Figures from London Councils revealed that 87.9 per cent of pupils received an offer from their first-choice primary school on Wednesday, down from 89.1 per cent last year.
Two more schools in Islington face closure, and another school in Lambeth.
Highbury Quadrant Primary School protesting to save the schoolTeachers have warned that this trend is set to worsen, with places spread between a smaller number of schools becoming increasingly oversubscribed.
Islington Council has earmarked Highbury Quadrant Primary School for closure, but Ms Oakley warned that reactively decreasing capacity now could lead to problems in the future.
“After those two years, they can knock our school down and build houses.”
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For former school premises to be used for purposes other than educational, consent from the Education Secretary is needed.
“Schools that are closing tend to have a higher proportion of disadvantaged children,” Ms Oakley said.
In London, pupil numbers are expected to decrease by eight per cent from 659,953 in 2023-24 to 607,326 in 2028-29, according to analysis of DfE data by TES magazine.
However, Mr Whiteman warned that this risked becoming an “increasing problem” across England.
“Primary schools remain predominantly the centre of their communities, so it’s more than just an economic decision about the number of children in a school at any one time.
The analysis carried out by London Councils forecast a decrease of 3.6 per cent in reception pupil numbers in London over the next four years, translating to 3,195 places – roughly equivalent to a drop of 117 reception classes.
“Councils are legally responsible for ensuring there are enough school places for their local communities and should work in collaboration with academy trusts and other local partners to balance the supply and demand of school places, in line with changing demographics.
“Through the landmark Children’s Wellbeing and School’s Bill, we will require councils and schools to work together on admissions to make sure every family has access to a good local school.”
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