Highbury Quadrant pupils with handmade signs chanted ‘Save our school’

PARENTS at a primary school earmarked for closure have said they are “scared” for the future of their children’s education.

In a presentation to parents at Highbury Quadrant Primary School on Wednesday, Islington’s director of education Paul Senior repeatedly said that no decision has yet been made on the “difficult and emotional topic” of whether to shut the school.

Highbury Quadrant is a one-form entry school being considered for closure due to falling pupil numbers, a budget deficit and building works costing up to £2million over the next 15 years.

But parents’ frustrations bubbled over as Mr Senior delivered a slideshow many of them had already seen twice before.

Alicia Perez, one of the parents, said that more than 70 per cent of pupils at Highbury Quadrant have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), English as an additional language or are looked-after children.

“Is it the right decision to close such a diverse school?” she said.

Rachelle Ramsay, whose daughter is in Year 1, said: “Kids are already leaving. People are scared. They know that there’s not going to be spaces in the schools round here.”

Mr Senior told parents that the council would work with nearby schools to provide space.

Pippa Dowswell, Islington’s National Education Union (NEU) co-secretary told the Tribune: “The council should be doing more to fight back. This [falling rolls] is affecting all London councils. Why aren’t they getting together, going to government and saying we need more money?

“We shouldn’t be closing schools, we should be valuing low class sizes.”

Schools receive around £6,000 per pupil from central government, so those with fewer pupils find it harder to afford essentials that every student needs, like teachers and building maintenance. Mr Senior confirmed that all teachers will be made redundant if the closure goes ahead.

A public consultation is underway to decide the school’s fate. Another primary, St Jude and St Paul’s, is undergoing the same process.

Ms Dowswell added: “Other schools in the borough are struggling – now they’re going to get more students, but they won’t hire more staff because they’re under the cosh as well.”

This is “phase three” of Islington’s school closures.

Blessed Sacrament and Montem were closed earlier this year, and Vittoria shut in 2023, while the council’s attempt to close Pooles Park led to that school becoming an academy.

In a meeting about the school closures at the Town Hall last week, Labour councillor Gulcin Ozdemir said that a lack of clarity on the council’s long-term plan made it hard to know how councillors could best support vulnerable pupils.

“We don’t see that end picture, and it just seems like it’s putting out fires,” she said.

An Islington Council spokesperson 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. We have worked closely with Highbury Quadrant for some time to explore alternative solutions and the proposed closure of a school is always the last option. We are currently consulting parents, teachers and school governors about the future of the school.”