School closures confirmed in Lambeth as council warns pupil numbers will continue to drop

Lambeth council has confirmed the closure of two primary schools and announced another merger, warning that pupil numbers will continue to drop.

Fenstanton Primary School in Abbots Park, Tulse Hill, and Holy Trinity CofE Primary School in Upper Tulse Hill will both close on June 2.

The future of the two schools came under threat in November last year when the council put forward plans to close or merge six primary schools due to a sharp drop in the number of children in the borough.

At the time, Holy Trinity CofE Primary School teacher Daniel Brooks 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.”

At the meeting, the Cabinet offered the schools governors to put forward an alternative proposal.

But the council has said solutions put forward by the schools were “unviable”, concluding that closure is the only option to “safeguard pupil’s education”.

This comes just weeks after Lambeth council announced plans to merge St Bede’s Catholic Infant School and St Bernadette Catholic Junior School into a single site.

Under the changes St Bernadette Catholic Junior School in Atkins Road, Clapham Park, would close and St Bede’s Catholic Infant School in Thornton Road, Clapham Park, would be extended to cover older year groups. There are 235 pupils across the two schools.

All pupils currently attending St Bernadette will be offered a place at St Bede’s if the school is shut down, Lambeth council said.

Cllr Ben Kind, Lambeth’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, said: “We know how upsetting and difficult school changes can be – for pupils, parents, staff and the wider community. 

“No one wants to see a school close, and these decisions are never taken lightly.

“But we have to face the reality of what’s happening with honesty and fairness to all school communities in Lambeth.”

Over the past 10 years the number of children starting reception classes in Lambeth has dropped by more than 1,000.

The council previously said falling numbers have been caused by factors including Brexit, the cost of living crisis and the pandemic which have forced families to move away from London.

Primary schools are funded per pupil by the Government. The drop in pupil numbers in Lambeth has seen the borough’s schools lose more than £40million in government funding.

That means less teachers and teaching resources, increasing the risk of schools building up big debt.

Cllr Kind said: “That’s deeply unfair – especially for boroughs like Lambeth.

“Since 2022, we’ve done everything we can to avoid closures. We’ve also looked carefully at every proposal and alternative put forward, working with our communities as we find the best way to deal with this crisis – including whether there was a workable alternative for these two schools.

“But with fewer children starting school each year and birth rates continuing to decline, the situation has become more urgent.”

Where closures are needed, the council said the building will be used for educational related uses, including special educational needs (SEN) schools. 

There is high demand in Lambeth SEN places, meaning there are enough pupils and funding to meet this need, a spokesman said.

Cllr Kind said: “We’ll keep working with families, schools and the wider community to make the changes we need in the fairest way we can.”

To read decision report visit moderngov.lambeth.gov.uk. 

Pictured top: Union members, parents, teachers and schoolchildren outside Lambeth town hall after closures were announced on November 4, 2024 (Picture: Lambeth NEU)