City of Westminster (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Two Westminster primary schools merged due to declining enrolment and financial strain, prompting warnings from parents over overcrowded classrooms and quality.
Before the September term begins, the governors of Our Lady of Dolours and St. Mary of the Angels Catholic Primary Schools, which are located in the west of the borough toward Kensington and Chelsea, are suggesting that the two schools join.
However, parents from both schools have launched an online petition against the plans, citing potential negative effects such as “crowded classrooms” and a decline in educational quality.
The plan calls for Our Lady of Dolours to relocate to the St. Mary of the Angels property because its current building is considered “unsustainable” and has poor accessibility for those with disabilities.
Both schools, which get government money on a per-child basis, cite financial challenges as a result of fewer students. Our Lady of Dolours reported being at 54% capacity as of October 2024, while St. Mary of the Angels reported being at 80% full.
This year, there are expected deficits of £550,000 and £186,000.
The planned merger was the subject of a public consultation that ran from mid-January to February 28. Ike Offiah (St. Mary of the Angels) and Timothy Howard (Our Lady of Dolours), the chairs of governors at each institution, stated in the consultation that the declining student enrollment was compelling a reconsideration.
They wrote:
“Both schools hold good Ofsted ratings and the Catholic Schools Inspectorate judged the Catholic life of both schools to be outstanding.
However, in order to protect Catholic education and to continue to provide a high-quality education that is well resourced and offers a wide range of opportunities, it is the view of the governors of both schools, the diocese and the Local Authority of Westminster that the schools should merge together to create a strong and sustainable Catholic school.”
The present headmaster at Our Lady of Dolours, Mrs. Sarah Alley, is designated to become the new headteacher, and all students from both schools are to be given a guaranteed spot under any merger.
A single school site facilitates drop-off and pick-up procedures for families with children of varying ages.
By combining student populations and optimizing staff and facility utilization, mergers aid in managing declining enrollment.
A combined school may be better able to adjust to shifting student demographics and academic requirements, guaranteeing its long-term survival.
These advantages are consistent with research and experiences of school mergers in other places, which show that better financial accountability, more comprehensive educational opportunities, and closer community relations are the main benefits of consolidation.
The parents’ petition, which as of this writing had 137 signatures, expressed concerns about the proposal’s possible effects on educational standards as well as the “distress” that some people had experienced as a result of it.
“The proposed amalgamation would push our school to operate at 130 per cent capacity, leading to crowded classrooms and a likely decrease in the quality of learning,” the petition read.
Moreover, only half of the pupils from Our Lady of Dolours practice as Catholics. This discrepancy might cause a significant change in the religious character of the STMA community.”
The outcomes of the governor-led consultation earlier this year have not been made public by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
Westminster City Council, the local government, has now released intentions to conduct its own consultation regarding the planned merger.
Westminster’s consultation will begin on April 24 and last for four weeks, unless opposition council members request for it to be held. Although no responses were received because of the Easter break, both schools were contacted for comment.
Schools in London are being impacted by declining student enrollment; it is anticipated that between 2023–2024 and 2028–2029, there will be a 12% decrease in the number of students enrolled in Inner London primary schools.
One of the boroughs most severely impacted is Westminster; the LDRS recently revealed that three schools in St. John’s Wood are considering merging due to comparable difficulties.
What are the potential benefits of merging two schools in Westminster?
By combining maintenance, operational, and administrative responsibilities, merging schools can reduce overhead costs and improve their financial sustainability.
By combining budgets and resources, money can be used more effectively, which could lower deficits and enhance financial stability.
Smaller, independent schools could find it difficult to offer the same level of specialized education, extracurricular activities, and academic programs as a combined school.
Investing in improved facilities, technology, and teaching materials could be made possible by pooling resources, improving the quality of education generally.
By providing more steady employment and possibilities for professional growth, a larger institution can draw in more skilled educators and experts.
Teachers can work together more effectively and share best practices when they merge, which could raise the caliber of instruction.
Students of all ages can benefit from unity and excellent role modeling when they are brought together.