Classroom gaps crisis

Published: 16 July, 2010
by RÓISÍN GADELRAB

PRIMARY schools in Islington face an uncertain future as the autumn intake of pupils is expected to drop by more than half in some cases.

The Tribune has learned that council officials have been considering combining at least four schools. 

It is understood that at one time officials suggested merging Newington Green with Highbury Quadrant schools and Moreland with St Luke’s, but it is not known if these plans are still being considered.

Islington’s schools chief, Labour councillor Richard Watts, was this week unwilling to discuss the fate of the six schools highlighted in a leaked list, where the expected intake next academic year will be between 44 per cent and 64 per cent of cap­acity.

He said: “There are no proposals to close any school. We obviously want to continue to improve our primaries and their buildings but can’t develop plans until we know about the government’s intentions for funding new primary school buildings.”

Vaughan West, branch secretary of trade union GMB, which has members working in schools, said: “All we have been told is that there are no immediate plans to close or merge schools. There are surplus places in some schools and the situation needs to be kept under review. 

“No schools will be merged or closed in the next year but what ­happens after that I’ve no idea. We’re going to keep a close eye on this. Our position is to protect our members and ensure Islington provides good-quality education.”

The six primary schools with low projected intakes, as recorded in May this year are: St Mary’s C of E (with 56 per cent vacancies), Copenhagen (53 per cent), Winton (46 per cent), Moreland (41 per cent), Newington Green (40 per cent) and ­Vittoria (36 per cent).

The drop in pupil intakes is in line with a trend in recent years which has seen a fall in the number of children in Islington.

Former Islington Council Lib Dem leader Councillor Terry Stacy said: “Labour have failed to come clean on whether there are discussions within the council about possible mergers. 

“When pressed by Cllr [Paula] Belford [Lib Dem group chief whip] they refused to answer, which gives the impression discussions are happening. They need to come clean with parents, teachers and governors about what they are planning.”

As the council prepares to announce the full effect of government cuts on this year’s bud­get, Town Hall sources have suggested that schools with empty places occupying prime property could be closed and merged under an umbrella executive head and the land sold off.

Cllr Watts was unable to deny the possibility of schools closing when confronted by Cllr Belford, a former Lib Dem schools chief, at last month’s full council meeting.

In response to her question, Cllr Watts said: “In the end we are going to make the right decisions for the people in this borough and to make sure they get the kind of education we would all be confident our children would want. As school funding gets more and more difficult under this government there’s some difficult choices to be made. I’m not saying we’re going to close a school but there’s some difficult choices to be made... and people will know who to blame for those.”

Cllr Belford said: “Richard Watts wouldn’t give me an assurance these schools won’t be closed. Labour’s campaign was all about education being the key. Results are improving greatly now. To start ­getting rid of schools would be tragic for us. We know we were ­losing pupils to other boroughs. Now we’re drawing Islington ­children back into Islington schools.”

Islington National Union of Teachers branch secretary Ken Muller said: “Smaller rolls can provide ­opportunities for a school to have smaller classes. If mergers were going to take place we’d want the interests of our members protected but also that it’s done in a way that’s acceptable to parents and students.”