Falling numbers could spell the end for another Greenwich primary school

By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter

A primary school in Greenwich has been earmarked for closure following plummeting pupil numbers.

Greenwich council has agreed to hold a consultation on plans to close Gallions Mount Primary School in Plumstead as the school faces a £1.2 million deficit.

The school, in Purrett Road, would close at the end of the current academic year in August 2025, if the proposals go ahead.

Greenwich council officers said in their report that the school had experienced a persistent reduction in pupils enrolling for several years.

They said the school had 295 primary-aged pupils in January 2021, a number which had since decreased to 169 pupils.

The report added that only 21 pupils had enrolled in reception at the school this year, while six were currently in the school’s nursery.

The falling number has reportedly led to a growing deficit for the school, with a £1.2m black hole projected for April 2026.

School funding is based on the number of pupils attending. Officers said this trend was unlikely to alter and there was a high risk the school would not recover.

They added: “The proposal to close Gallions Mount is something that the local authority wishes it would not be making but given the school’s consistent falling roll numbers over an extended period, this decision has become necessary to limit the impact on children and the entire school’s community.”

The proposal has reportedly been discussed with the head teacher and chair of governors for the school. The report said there were enough places available at other primary schools within the borough to accommodate the pupils of Gallions Mount.

Parents of pupils at the school would be invited to express preferences for other schools with vacancies and would be supported through offers for uniform grants.

The consultation is scheduled to take place from November 22 to December 20. Further representations will be made in January next year before the authority makes a formal decision in March.

If the closure goes ahead, the site will reportedly remain reserved for educational use and could be used for a new special educational needs facility.

The closure would follow Holy Family Roman Catholic Primary School in Kidbrooke shutting its doors this summer for the same reason.

Lambeth council also agreed to close Fenstanton Primary School and Holy Trinity C of E Primary School in Tulse Hill at a meeting earlier this month, due to falling pupil numbers.

Gallions Mount Primary School has been approached for comment.

Pictured top: Gallions Mount Primary (Picture: Google Street View)