Jeremy Corbyn backs the campaign to save Highbury Quadrant

LONG-TERM under­investment in a primary school that is now facing closure amounted to a “sub-plot agenda” by the council to shut it down, Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn alleged at a crunch meeting in the Town Hall.

Senior Labour councillors met last Thursday to consider the closure of two Islington primary schools, Highbury Quadrant, and St Jude and St Paul’s, on the grounds that they do not have enough pupils to remain financially viable.

Councillors voted to proceed with a “formal” four-week public consultation on the closure of the two schools.

But children, parents and teachers are opposing the plans and were supported by Mr Corbyn, who told the meeting: “Closing two schools in the same ward, both with fairly poor, working class communities backing them up is not a good look for our council.”

As schools receive a sum of money from central government per pupil, those with fewer children can face financial difficulties and therefore put strain on councils’ overall schools budget.

As well as declining pupil numbers, the council’s report on Highbury Quadrant cites “buildings and external areas that are not fit for purpose” as a factor in the school’s potential closure, and earlier documents said the school would need £2million of build­ing works to keep it open.

But Mr Corbyn argued that Highbury Quadrant should not be blamed for its financial predicament.

He said: “For too long I’ve been seeing insufficiency of spending on decorations, on support for the school.

Highbury Quadrant and St Jude and St Paul’s may face closure

“I believe there has been a sub-plot agenda, always of saying, ‘Well, this school has a falling roll and somewhere along the line we’re going to close it down.’”

Of the supposedly £2million bill of required works – which school staff dispute – he added: “It seems to me there’s an exaggeration of the financial issues surrounding the school to support the case for closing the school.”

Council leader Una O’Halloran hit back, calling his suggestion of a plot “really offensive”.

She added: “We’re data-led, we have a duty and we’re trying to be fair here tonight to listen to people’s comments. There’s still time, there has been no suggestion that either school is closing. I think for a Member of Parliament to say there is ‘some kind of plot’ – when we go out from this Town Hall we have lives, we live in the community.”

Islington’s education director, Paul Senior, said the amount of children in the school is the “biggest driver” behind its proposed closure. Both schools could close this summer, pending the formal public consulta­tion and a council vote.

Cllr Michelline Safi-Ngongo, executive member for children, young people and families, said: “We are committed to putting children first and driving educational excellence through inclusive and sustainable schools. We want every child, what­ever their background, to have the same oppor­tun­ity and ambition to reach their educational potential in a good school.

“Across London, because of a falling birth rate and changes to the local population, pupil numbers are falling, and Islington is no exception.

“Schools with fewer pupils get less government funding which risks their long-term future and the quality of education. Our top priority is to ensure the best outcomes for our children and young people and to deliver that, we need to effectively manage issues around capacity and ensure our schools are sustainable for the long term.

“We have explored alternative solutions for St Jude and St Paul’s, and Highbury Quadrant, and closing a school is always the last option. In line with national guidance, we consulted with parents, teachers and school governors about the future of the schools in the autumn term. Last week, the council’s executive considered all views put forward and agreed to proceed with the second stage of consultation.”