Four schools in north London could be closed as Camden Council reviews options amid falling pupil numbers. A report published this month identifies three primary schools and one secondary school as potential candidates for closure.
The schools named are St Alban’s Church of England Primary School in Holborn, St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Covent Garden, St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School in Kentish Town, and La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School in Highgate. The proposal comes as part of a wider crisis affecting the capital, where around 90 primary and secondary schools have closed or merged in the last five years due to declining pupil numbers.
Report Highlights Pressures
The report, titled “Strong and Sustainable Schools Consultation”, has been prepared for a panel of senior councillors and will be considered by Camden Council’s cabinet on October 20. It states that the named schools are “experiencing sustained and significant pressures”, including surplus capacity, declining pupil rolls, financial deficits, and operation below sustainable forms of entry.
The sustained decline in London schools has been linked to falling birth rates, housing affordability, and migration patterns. The report notes that “every empty school place means that primary schools lose an average of £7,500 of vital government funding per year, and secondary schools lose an average of £9,700 per year.”
Parent Opposition Grows
Parents at the affected schools have reacted negatively to the proposals. A petition to save La Sainte Union Catholic School has already gathered more than 2,000 signatures since it was launched five days ago. Organisers wrote: “For many families, this is not simply about losing a school building. It is about potentially losing a community, a trusted educational environment, friendships, stability, and a place where children feel safe and supported.”
La Sainte Union has the lowest subscription figures among the four schools, with just 28 parents choosing it as their top secondary school choice.
Next Steps and Timeline
Councillors will decide whether to close the schools entirely, merge them, or reduce admission numbers. A consultation will run for six weeks between November 2 and December 14. The report will also be discussed at the council’s Children, Schools and Families Scrutiny Committee on November 5. The outcome will be reviewed in February before an interim decision is made. Final decisions for each school will be made in April, with implementation expected before the start of the new school year in September.
