A CONSULTATION paper has gone out this morning (Friday) to the parents, staff and children attending two Islington primary schools over plans to merge them.

Students waking up today will be shocked to learn that their Barnsbury primary schools Vittoria in Half Moon Crescent and Copenhagen in Treaty Street may merge under drastic plans drawn up by the town hall.

Last week the Tribune revealed that 1500 students have left the borough in the last five years – the equivalent to five primary schools – leaving headteachers with a budgeting headache and on average seven empty seats per classroom.

A press release issued this morning said: “Islington Council is seeking the views of parents and carers, staff, and the local community on a proposal to amalgamate Vittoria and Copenhagen primary schools into one school.

“Across London there has been a significant decline in pupil numbers due to a range of factors including lower birth rates, changes to EU migration, the impact of Covid-19 and increased numbers of families moving out of London.”

Under the proposals, the two schools would merge under the Vittoria name, meaning Copenhagen would cease to exist as a legal entity.

The two schools would be housed on the current Copenhagen site, a three-storey Victorian building which until recently was sharing its space with City of London Primary Academy, until it moved to a dedicated site in Baltic Street West in Clerkenwell.

The statement goes on: “The proposal for Vittoria and Copenhagen primary schools would bring together Vittoria and Copenhagen primary schools into a single school under the Vittoria name, on the existing Copenhagen site.

“This would bring together the identities and strengths of both schools under one roof, so they can make the best use of the staff’s expertise and secure the financial future of the merged school.”