Westminster is set to consolidate five primary schools into two through two separate mergers, prompted by declining enrollment and financial challenges reported by the institutions involved.

Barrow Hill Junior School, Robinsfield Infant School, and George Eliot Primary School will combine to form St John’s Wood Primary School. Meanwhile, Our Lady of Dolours will merge with St Mary of the Angels Catholic Primary School.

Parents from both groups of schools have opposed these proposals, with a consultation showing that 83% of respondents disapproved of the merger.

The chairpersons of the governing bodies have acknowledged that this decision may lead to changes and potential uncertainty.

In a letter sent to parents last December, the chairs of the St John’s Wood schools outlined their reasoning for the merger, as reported by Local Democracy Reporting Service. They attributed challenges to declining birth rates and high housing costs. Since school funding hinges on enrollment numbers, a drop in students translates to budget constraints.

Current capacity figures reveal that Barrow Hill is operating at 82% of its capacity, George Eliot at 85%, and Robinsfield at 75%. Our Lady of Dolours and St Mary of the Angels are at 54% and 80% capacity, respectively, as of October 2024, leading to anticipated deficits of £550,000 and £186,000 this year.

The governing bodies opted to move forward with the merger plans in the spring, subsequently submitting them to Westminster City Council for official consultations.

However, some parents have raised questions regarding the necessity of these school mergers.

In the case of Our Lady of Dolours and St Mary of the Angels, a petition opposing the consolidation expressed concerns that the merger would push the school to operate at 130% capacity, resulting in overcrowded classrooms and potentially compromising educational quality.

Additionally, only half of the students from Our Lady of Dolours identify as practicing Catholics, raising concerns about the potential shift in the religious identity of the St Mary of the Angels community.

A petition against the merger is scheduled for consideration by Westminster City Council, citing issues like a lack of evidence for exploring alternative solutions and a failure to adequately acknowledge community feedback.