ANNOUNCEMENT BY ISLINGTON COUNCIL

IT is our mission to ensure that every child, whatever their background, has the same opportunity and ambition to reach their educational potential in a good Islington school. We must ensure that every child goes to a good school with a healthy budget.

Islington Council is proposing to close Blessed Sacrament RC Primary School in Barnsbury in summer 2024, at the end of the school year.

No decision has been made at this point, and the council is asking parents and carers, staff, the local community, and other interested groups for their views on the proposal. This informal consultation is your first opportunity to have your say.

Why is the council proposing to close the school?

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

We want to ensure a sustainable future for our schools, and an excellent education for our children so that they have the best start in life.

Blessed Sacrament has the lowest number of pupils of any school in Islington. The Government funds schools based on the number of pupils who attend.

But a school with only a few pupils and less Government funding still has many fixed costs to pay, including staff wages, paying for heating, hot water and electricity, maintaining all the buildings and providing services.

This means schools with fewer pupils have less Government funding left over to spend on providing the excellent education our children and young people deserve. For every empty seat, Islington primary schools miss out on an average of £5,500 a year, which will affect staffing, resources and the quality of education the children receive.

Our school organisation plan sets out how we will deal with falling pupil numbers while maintaining high standards of education. Surplus places currently stand at 24% across the borough, which means we are having to make some very difficult decisions.

The council has been discussing the issue of falling pupil numbers with the Catholic Diocese of Westminster for the last two years. This year at Blessed Sacrament, there are just six pupils in reception class. Overall, the school has the capacity for 210 pupils but only has 76 attending – a total of 134 empty seats. To put it another way, for every child being taught, there are two empty seats. Data based on live births demonstrates they will fall further still in the coming years. It is not possible to reduce the number of classes any further, so closure is the only option.

What will happen if the school closes?

We are proposing to close Blessed Sacrament RC Primary School on 31 July 2024.

We understand that this creates a period of uncertainty and concern for parents and the local community, as many have a strong connection to the school.

If it does close, we guarantee to offer all Blessed Sacrament pupils a place at another good Islington School in the neighbourhood, including other Roman Catholic primary schools. Ofsted has rated all other local Islington schools as ‘good’. We will also proactively support the school’s staff throughout the process.

We are committed to ensuring a smooth transition for all pupils. We will identify the additional needs of all children, starting with those with an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP), to ensure they have the additional support they need at their new school. We will also provide face-to-face support to any parent or carer who needs help with completing an admissions application.

It will be possible for groups of children and even whole year groups to move together to another nearby school. We can help to arrange this.

This is the first consultation phase – further opportunities to engage in the process will follow in early 2024.

How can I give my views?

We welcome your views on the proposal and will consider all feedback submitted during the consultation period. Give your views by completing our online survey by 12 December 2023. You will also find more information about the proposals, and answers to frequently asked questions, here.

www.letstalk.islington.gov.uk/blessed-sacrament

Islington Council’s Executive will decide whether to proceed with the statutory process to close the school at its meeting on 11 January 2024.