‘Heartbreaking decision’ made to close primary school next month

A final decision is to be agreed by a council’s cabinet on the closure of a primary school. 

After a full consultation with parents and the wider community, it has been decided that Townsend Primary School in Townsend Street, Walworth, will close its doors in July.

It is the third school in the area to announce its closure in the space of two months with a similar reason for shutting down.

A lack of demand has been blamed on a national falling birth rate, affordability of housing in London and Brexit. 

This means that schools, which are funded per pupil by the government, are struggling to balance their budgets. 

Southwark council’s cabinet will be presented with the outcomes of the full consultation on June 13 and asked to agree a recommendation for the closure.

As a result of the consultation, all children who attend the school have been offered a place in another good or outstanding school.

Councillor Jasmine Ali, deputy leader and cabinet member for children, education and refugees, said: “I am incredibly sad about this heartbreaking decision to close Townsend Primary School. 

“We hoped that we would find another school for Townsend to amalgamate with, but this did not happen. 

“I know how hard the school, parents and governors have worked to do everything in their power to keep the school going, and this decision is a very last resort. I thank them all for everything they have done.

“Unfortunately, no school can function, or continue to provide the same excellent education, with no money.

“Everyone’s main focus, mine included, is the children and the quality of their education.”

The council has said the school building will be maintained for education purposes.

Southwark’s schools are rated 97 per cent good or outstanding by Ofsted. More than a decade ago Southwark schools were fourth from the bottom of London authorities.

A Southwark council spokesman said: “This transformation of school improvement is largely due to the hard work of our teachers and governors, pupils and parents, and our own school improvement work, as well as work to make vastly improved buildings for learning.

“These efforts have resulted in outcomes for our children and young people being consistently above the national average, putting them in the best 10 per cent of state funded schools in the country. 

“However, 10 years ago, the demand for school places meant that we had to create more school places. 

“Today we are dealing with just the opposite, where the number of children needing a school place has fallen significantly so there is much less demand for school places.”

Pictured top: Townsend Primary School (Picture: Google Street View)