Islington Council has decided to shut St Jude & St Paul’s CofE Primary School. Highbury Quadrant Primary School will close one week later, with both decisions coming into effect at the end of the summer term. The move follows a precipitous decline in enrollment, particularly among Black families. Both these schools are now looking at vacancy rates hovering around 50%. Soaring housing costs in London are pushing birth rates below replacement levels. As a result, children are enrolling in schools at a growing trickle.
Local councillors’ controversial decision on Thursday has led to protests outside the two schools by teachers, parents and pupils. The entire community is coming together to raise their concerns. They give the impression that many in the community see the closures as a crushing blow. Natalie Meaker, a parent and resident, emphasized the school’s role within the community, stating, “I cannot believe they would even think about closing a small school which is such an important part of our community.”
In addition to St Jude & St Paul’s, Hackney Council recently announced the closure of four primary schools in its borough, including St Dominic’s Catholic Primary School and St Mary’s Church of England Primary School. The current pattern of school closures across London is extremely worrying to many parents and teachers for the future of educational provision in this city. Becky Hunter, a parent at Highbury Quadrant Primary School, said she was worried about whether their school would be open in the future. She says the decisions made about its future could deeply affect families for decades.
These protests outside Islington Town Hall Notting Hill stirred up support. Students and parents picket outside Notting Hill schools on the first day of the cutbacks. Leaders local to these communities know that these schools have a role beyond just education. They are essential pillars of their communities. One Newark mom, Carine Ogundipe, cried, “This is not only a school, it’s a community, it’s a family.”
London Councils have recently warned that more school closures may be in the pipeline as the fall in pupil numbers is set to persist. As the problem increases, impacted communities experience an uphill battle. They wrestle with the very real chance of losing educational facilities that for generations have bolstered and nourished their communities.
