Six councils in England have signed up to a pilot scheme that will convert empty classrooms into community hubs such as youth clubs and health centres, funded by £3.1m from the Department for Education (DfE). The first conversions are expected to be operational next year.
Pilot details and participating councils
The pilot targets areas with high proportions of surplus school places and a need for community facilities. The initial councils are Birmingham, Nottingham, Lincolnshire, West Sussex, and the London boroughs of Croydon and Lambeth. More councils are expected to join after the scheme launches in autumn.
The DfE stated that the six councils were selected to reflect a mix of communities, helping test different approaches to making the best use of surplus school space where it can have the biggest impact. Each area will develop proposals reflecting local needs, building an evidence base for how schools can continue serving communities even where pupil numbers have fallen.
Context: Falling pupil numbers
The policy addresses the long-term fall in children joining primary and secondary schools across England. Primary school pupil numbers have fallen by 85,000 since 2019 and are forecast to fall by a further 205,000 by 2028, according to the National Foundation for Education Research. One forecast predicts 800 primary schools could close by 2029-30.
Low birthrates are driving the decline: the number of children under 16 in England is expected to shrink by 6% over the next decade. London has been hardest hit, with nine of the ten local authorities with the largest declines in primary pupils. Islington, Lambeth, and Southwark are expected to see the steepest falls over the next four years, while Camden already has falling demand for secondary places. Outside London, rural and coastal communities like Lincolnshire also face sustained declines.
Ministerial and stakeholder reactions
Josh MacAlister, minister for children and families, said: “As birthrates fall and pupil numbers change, this government is taking action to help schools and councils make the most of spare space in schools for the benefit of local families and communities. Through this pilot, we will give a new lease of life to empty classrooms by transforming them into youth clubs, family hubs and other local services – making sure that school buildings continue working for children, parents and communities for years to come.”
A spokesperson for the Local Government Association said: “Councils would be keen to support any use of unused school space and would work with local residents and schools to ensure they benefit communities. We look forward to seeing further details of the proposals.”
Broader implications and future plans
The sharp decline in pupil numbers has raised fears that councils could sell off school properties, leaving areas vulnerable to future shortages if demographic trends reverse. The National Audit Office recently criticised the government for having “no clear approach” to help schools or local authorities handle the decline. However, the DfE is encouraging schools to use spare capacity to expand school-based nurseries and has allocated funding for more places for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Results from the pilot will feed into further DfE proposals to be published this year.
