A MERGER between two primary schools in King’s Cross was expected to be rubber stamped last night (Thursday).

Islington education chiefs announced at the start of the academic year they were looking at joining Vittoria Primary School, in Half Moon Crescent, with Copenhagen Primary School, in Treaty Street, due to falling rolls at both schools.

Following the announcement, parents met with education bosses at a series of council meetings to discuss their concerns about the merger, which would see the pupils at Vittoria – a bungalow building – moved to the larger, three-storey Victorian building at Copenhagen.

Families from Vittoria were worried about their children losing their familiar surroundings while those from Copenhagen felt the school would lose its identity. There were also questions about uniforms and a name change.

But the move was due to be approved as Islington’s cabinet of decision-making councillors met last night.

The merged school will become a 1.5 entry school, with a class and a half per year group.
Parent Fatun Noor, 32, who has one child at Copenhagen and another child due to start school in September – is still deci­ding where her youngest will go.

“Although the uniform is important for my son – he is autistic and likes routine – it’s the other qualities that are more important. Let’s see what they do with the kids, that’s what’s important,” she said.

Education lead councillor Michelline Ngongo has said: “Central government funds schools based on the number of pupils they have. Fewer pupils means less money to run the school, including paying for staff, goods and services, maintenance and other vital expenses.”

Meanwhile, parents at Pooles Park Primary School, which also has falling rolls and has been threatened with closure, met with council chiefs earlier this week.

Unhappy parents are fighting Islington’s proposal. One point of contention for all parents is what happens to the community garden attached to the school grounds in the event of closure – a cause Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn has written to the council about it.

Parents were told the school would only be closed if the Department for Education refused to turn it into an academy. A formal consultation on parents’ views about the proposed closure ends next Friday.

The school community are having an open garden day on Saturday from noon until 4pm.