‘What will be left for the community?’: Staff and parents fight to save primary school from closure

Staff and parents are fighting to stop the closure of their primary school, in a last bid to save a community they feel is being lost.

Southwark council is consulting on plans to shut Charlotte Sharman Primary School, in St George’s Street, Elephant and Castle, due to falling pupil numbers and a “significant budget deficit”.

Moshiur Kabiri, 46, of Brook Drive, whose two daughters, aged eight and nine, attend Charlotte Sharman, said the closure would break-up the community.

He said: “It’s not just a school – it’s a safe space where our children feel supported and excited to learn. 

“They hosted an Eid festival last week and it’s not just Muslim families who attended but other religious people coming to celebrate. That’s quite amazing.”

If the closure goes ahead, pupils will be distributed between other schools in the area.

Charlotte Sharman is the only non-faith school in the St George’s ward. Half of the children at the school are from a Muslim background, and a further 17 per cent come from families of no faith.

A petition started by parents calling on the council to stop the closure and explore viable alternatives already has more than 657 signatures.

The National Education Union (NEU) – which represents 24 of the 26 staff at the school – said its members “unanimously oppose” plans to close the school and were now being balloted for strike action. 

Charlotte Sharman teacher and NEU representative Laura Nichols said staff and families have been “left in limbo” by the announcement.

She said: “All our staff will be made redundant. 

“You’ve got teachers who work here that went to this school and teaching assistants whose parents were caretakers or governors. They’ve been here for 15, 20 years and they don’t want to leave.”

The council will announce its decision in June, one month after the school’s notice period.

Ms Nichols said: “It’s very stressful for families and staff. No one knows if they should leave.

“We have had no support from the council.”

The council’s decision comes following a number of school closures in recent years, including Townsend School in Walworth and Cobourg Primary School which merged with Camelot Primary School in Peckham.

Closures have been caused by factors including declining birthrate and people moving out of the area due to a drop in affordable housing. 

Last month Southwark council passed the controversial borough triangle development which will see Elephant and Castles popular market, Mercanto Metropolitano, bulldozed to make way for 892 flats – 230 of which will be affordable and 153 will be social rent. 

Mr Kabiri said: “Everything is being taken away from Elephant and Castle, it started with the bowling alley and now overdevelopment.

“What will be left for the community if this school goes? They’re not thinking about children.”

Cllr Jasmine Ali, Deputy Leader and cabinet member for children, education and refugees, said the decision comes despite the schools “tireless” work to avoid the impact of falling rolls.

Last year, Charlotte Sharman resisted council plans to merge it with St Jude’s Primary School – a Church of England school. 

Cllr Ali said: “The council has supported them through every possible option. 

“Steps were taken with the support of a different local school to try to make their budget work, but that strategy could not solve the significant deficit.

“Thankfully, the children will all be offered places in good and outstanding schools – their future success and stability are paramount and we will support all families as this happens.

But, an NEU official said the council should be working with unions to demand government funding to help keep schools open, “not coming up with reasons to close them”.

Pictured top: Moshiur Kabiri with his wife, son and two daughters who attend Charlotte Sharman (Picture: Moshiur Kabiri)