School to close permanently over falling pupil and application numbers

A school has announced it will close at the end of this academic year as pupil numbers have fallen leaving it to face “significant challenges”.

Archbishop Tenison’s School in Oval, Kennington, part of the Southwark Diocesan Board of Education, Multi Academy Trust (SDBE MAT) announced its plans to close permanently this week.

The school has said application numbers had dwindled in recent years and was the main reason for the closure.

Lambeth Lib Dem councillor Matthew Bryant said: “This is a great loss as the school has been an important part of the local community for many years.

“It is staggering that the Diocesan Board of Education can give parents, carers and staff such short notice of the imminent closure.

“It is symptomatic of the fragmented nature of our school provision that the Board can take this decision, but Lambeth council has to pick up the pieces.

“Right now, the priority must be to secure new schools for all the pupils. It is good to see the council is proposing that the current Year 10 will transfer as a group to the same school.”

Earlier this week, SDBE MAT released a statement which said: “Due to the significant and ongoing challenges with falling pupil and application numbers in schools across London Local Authorities and the London Borough of Lambeth, and after considerable review subject to a listening period, it has been proposed to close The Archbishop Tenison’s Secondary School, Oval by the end of the academic year (August 2023).

“We understand the importance of continuing education for the students impacted by this decision and are working closely with parents, the school and colleagues at Lambeth council, who are in the process of providing offer details for pupil placements in the academic year 2023-2024.”

The Rt Revd Dr Rosemarie Mallett, Bishop of Croydon and Chair of the Board of Education said: “We hope that every family, every child and every staff member will know that we are praying for them, the situation and for flourishing going forward into the future.”

Pictured top: Archbishop Tenison’s Secondary School, Oval (Picture: Google Street View)