Montem School in Hornsey Road

A CAMPAIGN to save popular primary school Montem in Finsbury Park has been bolstered after almost 1,300 people signed a petition to keep it open.

Islington launched a consultation over plans to merge Montem, in Hornsey Road, with Duncombe Primary School, also in Finsbury Park, last month, after falling rolls at schools across the borough left education chiefs looking for ways to save money.

Signatories to the petition include former headteacher Susan Seifert after it was started by former pupil Torian Lee on November 16, just days after Islington made the announcement Montem could move to Duncombe.

Ms Lee said: “This is a school that doesn’t deserve to just be a memory and can be a place where many children of the future can join a family-like environment that will have a long lasting impact on them in a positive way.

“I don’t know what the other primary schools in the area are like but I know my Montem is one of a kind and deserves its place in our community.”

Ms Seifert, who was head for 11 years until 2010, warned: “This is not the first time the authority have tried to close the school.

“Its retail value is enormous – once a developer along with the authority wanted Montem and tried to persuade us to move and [said] they would build us a new school. We objected and won. So once again they want the building.”

She suggested all schools across the borough should be reduced to one form to ensure no schools had to close.

Islington said in its consultation: “Duncombe and Montem schools both have high levels of spare school places, with pupil numbers set to reduce further.

“As a result, both schools are expected to experience budget deficits in the future. If we do not take action, this could lead to a decline in the quality of education for pupils at both schools.”