Two Lambeth schools could close as the council tries to avoid debt crisis
A number of primary schools may also be merged
Two Lambeth primary schools are set to close as the council aims to avoid an impending £17 million debt crisis, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
The council is consulting residents on the proposed closures and mergers until October 7, 2024.
Fenstanton Primary School and Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School, both in Tulse Hill, South London, will shut from September 2026 under plans unveiled by Lambeth Council.
A number of primary schools will also be merged.
Kings Avenue School and Glenbrook Primary School, both in Clapham, will be amalgamated from September 2026 under plans, as will St John the Divine Church of England School in Camberwell and Christ Church Primary SW9 in Brixton.
As of January 2024, Fenstanton Primary School was 57% empty with space for 359 extra pupils, while Holy Trinity School was 48% empty with 202 spaces for extra pupils.
The Labour-run local authority has said its schools will be in £17 million debt by March 2026 if it doesn’t take action to address the falling number of kids at primary schools in the borough.
Schools are funded per pupil by central government, which means they receive less cash the fewer students they have. Lambeth has suffered a one-third drop in the birth rate since 2009.
The council has blamed this on the cost of living crisis and people leaving the London due to Brexit.
GP registrations in Lambeth have also shown a decline in the proportion of kids remaining in the borough between birth and school-starting age in the last five years.
Lambeth has suffered a one-third drop in the birth rate since 2009 which the council has blamed on the cost of living crisis and people leaving the capital due to Brexit.
This decrease has left over 500 spaces in reception classes in the borough alone, the equivalent of 18 empty classrooms.
Lambeth Council’s cabinet will make a final decision on the plans in November.
Councillor Ben Kind, the council’s cabinet member for children and families, said: “Lambeth Council has a responsibility to act now to protect the future of Lambeth’s schools. We’re building on the action we have taken over several years and must act now to stop debts mounting and school’s futures being put in jeopardy.