Primary school closure threat amid falling pupil numbers

Tiverton Primary School in Tottenham will undergo a public consultation to decide its future, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

A primary school in Tottenham could be set to close amid falling pupil numbers in the area.

Tiverton Primary School will now undergo a public consultation to decide its future.

The four options agreed for the consultation by Haringey Council during a cabinet meeting yesterday (Tuesday 15th) were to either make no changes; form a federation which involves loosely linking the school to another; amalgamation, which involves closing two schools to make one new school; and closure.

Zena Brabazon, cabinet member for children, schools, and families, said there was a “perfect storm” affecting schools across London.

“Only three authorities have got rising numbers, out of 33,” she said. “Every other [council] is seeing a decline and it is regrettable that we are seeing the impact of this on loved and cared-about community schools across our city.”

A report on the school detailed Tiverton’s “financial deficit” following the “gradual decline” of pupil numbers, starting in 2019.

A former neighbouring school, Stamford Hill Primary School, closed down and amalgamated with Tiverton in September 2020.

Cllr Brabazon added the ‘national funding formula’ for schools was based on pupil numbers, and if that reduced, so did the school’s budget. This formula didn’t “favour London” due to the issues facing the city.

The report said: “The critical London-wide factors of lower birth rates; the cap on rent benefits; families leaving the capital as a result of the housing crisis; Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic have resulted in a reduction in demand for primary school places in the borough which is no fault of the council or our schools.”

In 2017, Tiverton had 352 pupils, but as of September 2024 this figure has halved, falling to 176.

Only 25 pupils began in reception this year, which equated to an approximate £20,000 loss while a “larger cohort” of year six pupils transitioned away to secondary school.

Cllr Brabazon said: “Every pupil has a value, in primary it’s roughly around £4,500, so for every child who doesn’t come, the school loses the money, but you still have to put a teacher in front of the class and you still have to have support assistants.”

Liberal Democrat councillor Dawn Barnes asked how pervasive “similar weaknesses” were in the borough and whether this may be the “first of a number of consultations about closing or amalgamating schools in Haringey”.

Jane Edwards, the assistant director of children’s services, said: “There are a number of schools we’re working with who are facing difficulties.

“We are pleased to say that the vast majority of them have a recovery plan which we feel confident will help them get themselves back to a balanced position.

“We are working with a number of schools trying to help them think about their financial stability and the number of pupils coming in.”

Local news needs your support

We are proud that we were at the forefront of reporting on the recent local elections. We can’t do this without the support of our readers.

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.