Parents and teachers ‘devastated’ as council confirms school closures

Parents and teachers have been left devastated after a council confirmed it will merge or close six of the borough’s primary schools.

Union members, children and school staff lined the streets outside Lambeth Town Hall yesterday afternoon as the cabinet decided to adopt the measures which will affect 1,048 school children, their families and school staff.

The meeting confirmed the closure of Fenstanton Primary School and Holy Trinity CofE Primary School, both in Tulse Hill, as well as the merger of King’s Avenue School and Glenbrook Primary School, both in Clapham, and St John the Divine CofE School in Camberwell with Christ Church Primary in Brixton.

The council upheld its decision not to amalgamate St Saviour’s CofE Primary School in Herne Hill with St John’s Angell Town CofE Primary School in Brixton.

Daniel Brooks, a teacher at Holy Trinity CofE Primary School, said: “Staff have done everything asked by Lambeth to protect our school and keep it running, including several restructures.

“The decision to close the school is one I am devastated by.”

The council said the move was necessary after the number of children starting primary school in the borough had dropped by almost 30 per cent in the past 10 years, leaving more than 500 vacancies in reception classes alone.

The council said the financial challenge facing its education system means Lambeth schools will be £17million in debt by March 2026, if measures are not brought in.

The two schools set for closure had been hit particularly hard by falling roll numbers. In January, both were found to be 50 per cent empty, leading to a combined deficit forecast to reach almost £1.5million by the end of 2025/26.

The council said there were enough spaces in surrounding schools to accommodate former Fenstanton and Holy Trinity pupils, but the decision has left parents and carers fearful over whether their children will be accepted.

Shan Rees, a grandparent of a pupil at Holy Trinity, said: “Holy Trinity does not turn children away, giving places to children who have not been admitted to other Lambeth schools. 

“They developed a special space, curriculum and sensory garden particularly for autistic children.

“What will happen to these children now?”

The plans will also see the 152-year-old Saint John the Divine Church of England (SJtD) Primary School in Warham Street, Camberwell, close to be merged with Christ Church Primary School.

Lambeth’s consultation based the financial benefit of the merger on the assumption that 84 SJtD pupils would move to the new school. But, SJtD’s survey of parents found that only four children would move.

Mark Chapman, the school’s chairman of finance, said this meant the proposal was “not financially viable”, and would instead create a school with a deficit of more than £1million by 2026-27. Mr Chapman sent this information to Lambeth council in response to its informal consultation, but it was not considered, he said.

Peter Truesdale, chairman of governors, said: “Our parents still have not been listened to. They said ‘don’t close, and if you do, we will not send our children to the amalgamated school’. 

“Lambeth has ignored this and the new school is unlikely to be viable.”

Earlier this year, research by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) said Lambeth was projected to see England’s largest percentage drop in pupil numbers at primary level by 2030, and is the borough with the largest potential decrease in funding.

The council has called on the Government to reform the National Funding Formula (NFF), which it says “disadvantages schools in urban areas”.

The previous government changed the way schools are funded so they receive funding per pupil rather than based on need, which creates financial pressures when pupil numbers fall.

A Lambeth council spokesman said the proposal to close schools came from “an incredibly difficult situation” and was not a process it wanted to undertake.

He said: “Protecting education is our priority so tough choices do need to be made. We have great primary schools, providing high-quality education taught by excellent school staff.

“We have listened to the community and took their views into account.”

Pictured top: Union members, parents, teachers and schoolchildren outside Lambeth town hall yesterday (Picture: Lambeth NEU)