MP Jeremy Corbyn joins staff and parents calling for Highbury Quadrant to be kept open – before the decision was taken to close the primary school

PARENTS will receive just £30 towards the cost of new school uniforms following Islington Council’s decision to close two primaries this summer.

Cabinet councillors ­voted to proceed with the closure of Highbury Quadrant and St Jude and St Paul’s primary schools last month, on the grounds that there are not enough pupils to make them financially viable.

But parents – many of whom campaigned for months against the closures – are now having to fork out for uniforms at their children’s new schools with just a £30 contribution from the council.

While prices vary between schools, a sweatshirt is around £10, a polo shirt around £8, a book bag around £8 and a backpack closer to £15.

Highbury Quadrant mother Alicia Perez told the Tribune that one jumper, two T-shirts and a backpack from a new school would set her back almost £50. “It’s a lot of promises unkept to be honest,” said Ms Perez, who felt “frustrated” by the shortfall in the council’s financial support, as well as the limited number of local primary places for her children.

The council’s report into the planned closure of Highbury Quadrant said there was an average of 25 school vacancies for each pupil, within 1.2 kilometres of their home address.

But this was not the reality for Ms Perez.

In a list of vacancies for her child entering reception, provided in early May by Islington’s admissions team, there was not one school within 1.2km of her home address and the same was true for her child entering Year 5.

Those numbers also continue to dwindle. By the time Ms Perez met with admissions staff last Thursday, she was told that the only remaining school that could guarantee a place for both her children was Prior Weston, a primary just north of Old Street, nearly 5km away from their home near Clissold Park.

While many have already left Highbury Quadrant, the Tribune understands that at least 75 children remain on roll, more than 50 of whom have not yet secured a place at another school.

Ms Perez claimed that a lot of these children are from the estates near High­bury Quadrant School, many of them low-income families with English as an additional language.

It is these pupils who could now have to travel over an hour to get to school as vacancies in nearby primaries get snapped up on a first-come-first-served basis, she explained. “Our estates are in a black hole. As all the kids leave, the catchment area for nearby schools is shrinking. We said this all along – we’ve been proven right, but it’s not the right time to be proven right.”

St Jude & St Paul’s parent Andri Andreou said parents at her school were facing similar challenges. “As predicted, all of the stuff they promised people hasn’t materialised and they’re basically just telling us where to send our children. That’s not parental choice, is it? If you want to get multiple children in the same school, there are really, really slim pickings.”

Councillor Michelline Safi-Ngongo, Islington’s children’s chief, said: “Every single child affected will be offered a place in a good or outstanding school, and we’ll be there to help families every step of the way. If parents or carers have any questions, they can contact our Admissions team for help and support.

“We’re offering a £30 contribution towards essential branded uniform items. Generic pieces like shoes and plain trousers can still be worn at new schools. Families can request support via a simple online form, with payments made directly by bank transfer upon submission. We also recognise that many parents speak English as a second language and we’re working closely with schools and families to ensure everyone gets the advice and support they need.”