Two ‘highly regarded’ primary schools look likely to merge – with pupil numbers falling

Thirty per cent of reception places in Barnsbury are available

Two Islington primary schools with falling pupil numbers are likely to merge.

The proposed move will see Copenhagen and Vittoria primary schools – both members of the Islington Futures federation – combine.

There are currently 294 pupils at both schools, down from 333 last year and 405 in 2017.

The council’s executive committee is likely to approve the plan, which will then go through further consultation with a final decision in the summer, ready for the next school year.

If it goes ahead, pupils will study at Copenhagen School on Treaty Street and the council plans to keep Vittoria School on Half Moon Crescent for educational and community use.

The initial proposal was to call the merged school Vittoria, but a recommendation suggests a new moniker “that combines both schools’ names”.

There are just 12 children in the reception class at Vittoria this year, and 17 at Copenhagen.

Numbers are expected to continue falling, which could push the two schools into deficit.

The council said the merger is needed as primary school rolls have dropped by 20 per cent at the start of this school year across Islington.

Six schools in the Barnsbury area, which includes Copenhagen and Vittoria, have empty places – with 30 per cent of reception spaces unfilled.

Town hall bosses blame falling birth rates for the problem.

Brexit and the pandemic have also seen an exodus of families from the capital.

Funding is based on the number of children, so schools get less money when rolls drop. On average, they get £5,500 per pupil attending their school.

Ten schools in Islington are currently in deficit.

The schools’ executive head John Beighton said: “Over recent years, both schools have put cost-saving measures in place to help tackle the financial difficulties facing many London schools.

“We feel that continuing to cut costs within our individual schools would be to a detriment to our children’s learning experience.”

Education bosses told parents: “Schools operate most efficiently and effectively when full or nearly full, so we want to keep the number of surplus places to a minimum.”

The council consulted parents and residents about its plan and spoke to 116 people at consultation meetings.

It also ran an online consultation and 55 per cent of the 38 respondents “strongly agreed” with the plan, while 26 per cent were against it.

The council said: “We know that the staff at both schools are highly regarded by parents and pupils alike and that they will want some reassurance about the future of staff.”

Formal staff consultations can only start after a final decision is made by the Town Hall executive.

Education bosses said: “It is too early to offer certainty regarding future staffing arrangements. We will, however, seek to protect employment as far as possible for staff currently working at Vittoria and Copenhagen.”