HOPEFUL parents waved letters of opposition to the council’s proposals to close their children’s primary schools as public surveys on the plans came to an end this week.

School communities at Highbury Quadrant and St Jude and St Paul’s primary schools have rallied together over the past five weeks to campaign against Islington Council’s latest round of school closures, which could see both primaries shut for good next summer.

They hope that their protests, petitions, and support from MP Jeremy Corbyn will be enough to sway councillors to vote against the proposed closures at a meeting in February next year.

“They need to realise the effect this will have on these children,” said SJSP parent Rosie Turvey at a meeting between parents and Mr Corbyn at the school on Friday. In a statement to the Town Hall last week, Highbury Quadrant parent Dominic Milne said the school’s closure would be “absolutely devastating to the community”, adding that “it is insulting to close the school with no forward plan for the site”.

In meetings with parents at both schools, Mr Corbyn pointed out that the buildings at Montem – a primary school that was merged with Duncombe earlier this year – are still vacant, months after the school’s closure.

Highbury Quadrant and SJSP have been slated for closure due to falling pupil numbers and budget deficits.

The council also cited expensive building works and a falling Ofsted rating in its case against Highbury Quadrant.

At both schools parents and teachers have stressed the high numbers of children with special educational needs/disabilities (SEND), and repeatedly told council officials that the closures will be particularly traumatic for these children.

An Islington Council spokesperson said “the proposed closure of a school is always the last option”, and that its priority is to ensure the best outcomes for children by keeping schools sustainable for the long term.