Islington (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Parents are taking Islington Council to the High Court, alleging manipulation of key data in the controversial decision to shut a local primary school.
Islington confirmed intentions to close St Jude and St Paul’s Primary School, along with Highbury Quadrant School, at the end of August, and parents are battling to keep the school running.
They feel that the decision to close St. Jude and St. Paul’s was unfair and “glossed over” important financial information, therefore they have now filed papers with the High Court asking for a judicial review.
As families continue to flee the capital owing to Brexit, the cost of living problem, and a shortage of affordable housing, authorities throughout London are faced with difficult decisions over whether to close schools. This decision includes closing St Jude and St Paul’s.
Out of all the primary schools in Islington, St Jude and St Paul’s has the fewest students—114 out of 210 slots are occupied—and the council predicts that this number will continue to decline. In January, there were just eight kids in the school’s nursery.
Andri Andreou, who has two daughters at St Jude and St Paul’s primary school, told the Standard:
“Our parents really believe we have a strong case. We are not losing children or families.”
She added:
“We are not moving our children. We believe the school is going to stay open.
Even though [the decision] has gone through the council chambers I believe the executive board members have made a decision on what is presented to them.
But actually what was presented to them isn’t accurate about our financial status.”
The mom clarified that she hopes the decision will be overturned and she will still be able to send her daughter to the primary school next year, despite receiving a letter stating that her youngest child’s reception seat at St Jude and St Paul’s has been revoked.
Ms Andreou added:
“My seven-year-old has special educational needs. I honestly believe if we sent her to another school, we would end up with a school refuser.
Her level of anxiety is so high that if I were to remove her and put her into another school, she just wouldn’t cope.
Not only does she cope in this school but she thrives. I fully entrust my children to not just be taught, but loved and cared for when they are at school. I don’t think you get that in every school.
You don’t get that in huge schools where those children are just numbers.”
Concerns have also been expressed by Ms. Andreou over the future of the Mildmay Trust, which assists in providing additional music instruction, field excursions, laptops, and tuition for underprivileged families at the school.
Concerns regarding the potential long-term effects on their children of closing St. Jude and St. Paul’s have also been voiced by parents.
They maintain that the decision to close the school “lacked a transparent, fair process” and that it “serves a diverse and tightly knit community.”
A statement from parents, seen by the Standard, said:
“Parents are deeply committed to protecting our children’s education and the role this school plays in our community. Pursuing a Judicial Review is a significant step in standing up for what we believe is right.
We hope the court will take a serious look at how this decision was made as we believe vital information was either left out, glossed over or deliberately manipulated to provide the local authority with the outcome they desperately needed at the expense of our children.”
In an effort to save the school, parents have already been fighting for months.
After all other options were exhausted, Islington Council referred to the decision to close the school and Highbury Quadrant school as a “last resort.”
It recently informed parents that schools are finding it more difficult to continue operating and “provide their pupils with the high-quality educational experience they deserve” due to a combination of the nation’s school funding system and the dropping number of students.
Every student impacted by the closure has been assured of a spot at a different “Good” or “Outstanding” Islington school.