TEACHERS protested from picket lines and rode through Islington on an open-top bus this week in a continued campaign to convince councillors to reconsider plans to close two primary schools amid falling pupil numbers.

St Jude and St Paul’s and Highbury Quadrant teachers are striking for a total of six days over three weeks before the clock runs out on a consultation survey. A final verdict on whether the schools will shut or not is due next month.

Islington’s striking teachers also joined forces with a third at-risk school in Hackney on Thursday to march together to Sir Keir Starmer’s office in Camden, calling for a revamp of how education is funded.

Teaching assistants Diane Tye and Diane Brown

Year 3 teacher at Jude and St Paul’s, Barbara Schulz, told the Tribune: “I know we haven’t got a lot of bums on seats but small classes are a good thing in private schools so why can’t our kids have that? We’re striking because we feel powerless. We don’t know if it’s going to make any difference but we can’t sit back and be passive.”

Early years teacher Duncan Mills said: “If [the council] were able to give one reason that stood up to scrutiny you might be able to take it on the chin but you go through the list [of reasons for the proposed closure], and none of the things are accurate. It feels like a political decision that’s already been made.”

Many teachers became emotional as they talked about why St Jude and St Paul’s is such a special school. “It’s just a happy, nurturing space,” said teaching assistant Diane Brown. “If it closes down it’s not just a school that’s closing, it’s a family.”

Lexi loves her school

Islington National Education Union (NEU) lead Pippa Dowswell said: “This is actually a government issue – you need to change the funding formula, you need to fund education appropriately.”

While local authorities are responsible for the decision to close a school, education is funded by government on a per-pupil basis, meaning schools with shrinking registers get less funding and find it harder to stay afloat.

Islington’s education chief Councillor Michelline Safi-Ngongo said: “The proposals to close these schools are based on long-term sustainability challenges due to declining pupil numbers. As numbers continue to fall, it will become increasingly difficult for these schools to maintain the level of inclusive education and support that pupils need and deserve. We know this is an unsettling time for families and staff, and we are committed to supporting them throughout the consultation process. No final decisions have been made.”