Two Hackney primary schools face closure next year and four others could merge – as fall in pupil numbers leads to huge funding cuts

De Beauvoir Primary School. Image: Google

Two primary schools are facing closure and another four could merge because falling pupil numbers have seen their funding cut by millions.

As they prepared for the Easter holidays, parents and teachers learned that De Beauvoir and Randal Cremer primary schools could shut in September 2024.

Both schools are rated as good by Ofsted inspectors.

A further four schools could merge, bringing them all under the same leadership.

Together, the schools have lost more than £4m in government funding compared with what they would expect to receive if places were completely filled.

Hackney Council is considering merging Colvestone Primary School and Princess May Primary School at the Princess May site in September 2024.

Baden Powell Primary School and Nightingale Primary School could be combined at the Nightingale site, also in September 2024.

No changes will happen before September 2024 and the council will speak to parents, teachers and governors.

Town Hall bosses also pledged to talk to children affected by the plans.

The six schools facing changes saw the number of unfilled reception places go up from six out of 270 in 2014 to 101 out of 225 in 2022.

Randal Cremer Primary School. Image: Google

Hackney currently has 634 empty seats in reception classes. The borough as a whole has 589 fewer reception pupils than in 2014 – a loss of around 20 classes.

The council blames falling birth rates, families leaving London because of the pandemic and housing costs, and people returning to other European countries in the wake of Brexit.

They are also facing competition from free schools.

The council has asked for more funding from the government, describing the recent two per cent increase per child as “simply not enough”.

In 2021, the council warned it was “poised to consider and undertake in the near future” closures of primaries or cuts in the number of school places.

Falling pupil numbers in earlier year groups has already prompted a consultation on the reduction of published admission numbers (PANs) for the school year beginning in September of 2022 at five schools, including Randal Cremer.

Other London boroughs are also affected. Camden Council is set to approve the closure of a primary school and Islington Council is likely to merge two primaries.

The drop in numbers means Hackney’s 58 primary schools have lost £30m in funding, which is dependent on pupil numbers.

The council said the worst affected schools have lost hundreds of thousands of pounds. This means they have less money to pay for salaries, extracurricular activities and buy the most modern equipment and resources, the council warned.

Deputy Mayor Anntoinette Bramble, who has responsibility for education, said: “No-one wants to be in this position. But lower birth rates, competition from free schools, the cap on rent benefits, high property prices and people moving out of London, means there are less children in our schools.

“This is no fault of our schools. Unfortunately, other London authorities are facing exactly the same challenges.”

She added: “It is our job, as a local authority, to create life-improving opportunities for those in the borough who most need them – this starts with access to first-class education. And we must continue to ensure that every single child has access to an excellent education that allows them to fulfil their potential and achieve their ambitions.”

There are no plans to close or amalgamate secondary schools, which have a small surplus number of pupils.