Many councils in England are taking action to address the decrease in student enrollment in primary schools. This includes closing, combining, and reducing the size of these schools due to a decrease in the birth rate and family disruptions caused by increasing expenses, Brexit, and Covid.
The boroughs of London are facing significant challenges, as numerous school spots are disappearing. However, the reductions and budget cuts are also affecting other cities and regions as they adapt to a decrease in the number of children being born or relocating to their designated zones.
Over the last week, Hackney and Lambeth in London have put forth plans to significantly reduce funding and shut down services. Lambeth’s proposal would result in a decrease of over 4,000 primary school spots in the borough over a period of seven years.
A representative from London Councils, an organization that speaks for the 32 local governments in the city, stated that the boroughs are putting in effort to assist their schools and come up with solutions to ensure their financial sustainability. In certain situations where all other possibilities have been tried and there is expected to be low demand, there may be a need for school closures.
The boroughs are committed to ensuring that every child in London has the opportunity to receive a top-notch education. Despite challenges such as changes in population and financial constraints, we are eager to collaborate with the government to make this a reality.
Hackney announced that it intends to shut down four primary schools. Two will be closed completely, while the other two will merge with other schools.
Anntoinette Bramble, the deputy mayor and cabinet member for education in Hackney, expressed that the choice to shut down highly valued schools was a challenging one.
Bramble stated that this is the sole method to guarantee that we can decrease the lasting adverse effects on education in Hackney and the council’s budget, especially during a time of significant financial strain. She clarified that none of these challenges are a result of our schools, their leaders, or their employees.
The Lambeth council reported that the borough has seen a 33% decrease in birth rates since 2009, and that factors such as the cost of living, the Covid-19 pandemic, and Brexit have contributed to a significant amount of migration.
Ben Kind, a member of Lambeth’s cabinet responsible for children and families, stated that the borough has a highly successful network of schools and is making efforts to safeguard them amidst this difficult situation. The aim is to prevent major interventions, such as closures, from becoming necessary, but these measures may have to be considered if schools do not opt for a collaborative approach across the entire borough.
The London Councils reports that nearly 15% of school spots in the city are currently vacant. They are predicting a 7% decline in new students from now until 2026-27, which is roughly equivalent to 243 classrooms worth of children.
Boroughs in Inner London, like Haringey, have been reducing available spots since 2019. However, the council is aiming to decrease enrollment by half at three primary schools, citing a higher than expected number of families leaving the London region as a contributing factor.
Islington’s latest school organization plan proposes the merging and closure of two primary schools, as well as a reduction of 150 reception places. The plan states that families who left London during the pandemic have chosen to stay, resulting in fewer graduates moving to the city for work and more workers opting to live farther away from central London due to remote work opportunities.
However, even boroughs in outer London, like Barnet, are experiencing a decrease in enrollments. The council attributes this to shifts in migration patterns and the birth rate. Some local authorities on the outskirts of London, such as Hertfordshire, are considering making budget cuts. Additionally, Brighton and Hove plans to shut down two primary schools and decrease enrollment at nine others.
A recent investigation conducted by the Guardian found that the majority of councils currently undergoing consultations regarding school places are planning to decrease the number of students admitted to individual schools rather than completely shutting them down.
The Guardian’s examination revealed that 88 primary schools in England had an occupancy rate of less than one-third in the previous year, putting them at risk of shutting down. In total, there were a higher number of unoccupied spots than in any year since 2010, amounting to 570,000 absent students or 11.5% of the total school capacity.
Paul Whiteman, the head of the National Association of Head Teachers, expressed worry over the decline in student enrollment for numerous school administrators.
Whiteman stated that it would be a grave error to permit the closure of schools, as this could lead to a recurrence of a shortage of school spaces in the future. He emphasized the importance for local authorities and the government to have a long-term perspective and provide support for schools that may experience temporary decreases in student enrollment.
Instead of permitting primary schools to become smaller, Whiteman saw it as a valuable chance to have fewer students in each class and provide more personalized assistance to help them bounce back from the impacts of the recent Covid pandemic and rising costs of living.
Source: theguardian.com
