EXCLUSIVE: EastEnders star Nicola Stapleton’s former school in Walworth saved from closure

Former EastEnders star Nicola Stapleton’s former school has had an 11th-hour reprieve after parents were told in December it faced closure.

Plans had been made for Townsend Primary School in Townsend Street, just off the Old Kent Road in Walworth, to shut on September 1.

But a campaign by the school’s families – and a suggested scheme for a merger instead – have led to a change of heart by town hall leaders.

A letter yesterday from Norma McCance chair of governors said: “I am delighted to confirm that Southwark council has decided not to continue with its proposal to close School.

“Over 100 comments suggestions or questions were logged for consideration by the council. Many of these highlighted the high regard for the school and its staff with the local community while others pushed the decision-makers to find alternative solutions.

“The council indicated reasons for the decision as:

* The need to look afresh at falling rolls across our local area and to explore partnerships or mergers

* The many positive comments and strength of feeling during the consultation

“The council also wanted to correct inaccurate statements and make it clear the proposal to close was made by the local authority and not the governing body.

“Of course our large budget deficit and falling people numbers are still a great concern. But the council has stated its officers will help us face these challenges to determine the right way forward.

“On behalf of governors may I thank you all of you for attending meetings, asking questions, suggesting possible solutions and making your feelings known. There can be no doubt that your support has influenced this decision.”

Campaiging mum Katy Scriven said: “I saw some of the parents drop to their knees in gratitude outside when they were told.

“They were all clapping in the playground.

“I did not want my girl to be one of the last pupils in the school. But many parents have already taken their children out. This just goes to show how much people believe in this school.”

Southwark council had said the closure of 162-pupil Townsend would be because of falling numbers of children – because not enough people with young families live in the area.

Chair of governors Norma McCance had said in her letter last December: “It is with great sadness that I write this letter to you; a letter that I hoped I would never have to write.

“Over the last three years both the Governors and the Local Authority (LA) have worked together on exploring other options, but reluctantly they have had to take this decision.

“Townsend’s numbers continue to fall because there are not enough children in the area. This has resulted in the school being unable to finance the staff and provision for our pupils. We have explored an amalgamation with another school, but after several months, this proved too difficult.

“We recognise that this news will be difficult to receive, particularly in the midst of what has been an extremely challenging period due to Covid-19. Sadly, there is no good time to receive such news.”

Stapleton, who played Mandy Salter in EastEnders and also starred in Emmerdale,  attended Townsend from 1979-85. There her parents were advised by a teacher “to channel her energy into something positive.” As a result, they sent her to the Corona Theatre School and Sylvia Young Theatre School, where Denise Van Outen and her future EastEnders co-star, Danniella Westbrook, were among her contemporaries.

Parents of another school just 400 yards away, in debt to the tune of over £200,000, were told last July it is set to close as pupil numbers plummet.

The 156-year-old St John’s Walworth Church of England Primary School, in Larcom Street, and also in Southwark, will close in September after falling pupil rolls placed “irreversible pressure on the school budget”.