Consultation on the future of Highbury Quadrant Primary School

27 February 2025

Notice is given, in accordance with Section 15 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 (as amended by the Education Act 2011) and the School Organisation (Establishment and Discontinuance of Schools) Regulations 2013, that Islington Council intends to discontinue Highbury Quadrant Primary School with effect from 31 August 2025.

Contact Details

Proposal published by the London Borough of Islington, Town Hall, Upper Street, London, N1 2UD

Name, Address and Category of the School it is proposed that should be discontinued

Highbury Quadrant Primary School, Highbury New Park, London N5 2DP, a Community School.

Implementation

We propose to close Highbury Quadrant Primary School on 31 August 2025.

Reason for Closure

The proposal is due to a fall in pupil numbers and its associated impact on the future viability of Highbury Quadrant Primary School. In addition the School has had a budget deficit for a number of years and its buildings and external areas are no longer fit for purpose, requiring significant capital investment.

Pupil numbers and admissions

According to the last school census in October 2024, there were 183 pupils on roll at Highbury Quadrant Primary School.

The school’s age range is 2 -11 years, and provision is available to boys and girls. There is no boarding provision.

There were 14 pupils on roll with Education, Health, and Care Plans in October 2024.

Pupil numbers across Reception to Year 6 were 161 in October 2024, significantly lower than the capacity of the school which is currently 360 places, equating to a 55% vacancy rate. The school is now operating with a PAN of 30, but even once the PAN feeds through into all year groups the school would still have a vacancy rate of 23%.

Displaced pupils

All existing pupils would be offered a place in a nearby Islington school within walking distance. Further information on distances to other schools is set out in ‘Travel’.

Impact on the Community

All displaced pupils would have access to Ofsted rated ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ local provision which have spare capacity to accommodate all pupils from Highbury Quadrant Primary School. The level of existing surplus school places within this and all other Islington primary school Planning Areas means that future pupils would continue to have access to local provision. Additionally, displaced pupils would access a more sustainable school system.

Balance of denominational provision

Not applicable

Maintained nursery school

Not applicable

Sixth form provision

Not applicable

Special educational needs provision

The existing provision at Highbury Quadrant Primary School is not reserved for pupils with special educational needs.

For pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan, their SEND (Special Educational Needs or Disabilities) Keyworker will contact all affected families directly to see if any special transition arrangements are needed to support children.

Travel

There are seven Islington primary schools within 1.5 mile walking distance of Highbury Quadrant Primary School which each have at least ten vacant places from Reception Year to Year 6, totalling 259 places (96 of these are at St Jude and St Paul’s Church of England Primary School). In addition five Hackney primary schools with vacancies in five or more year groups are within 1.5 mile walking distance of Highbury Quadrant Primary School.

Related proposals

None.

Procedure for making representations (objections and comments) 

Within four weeks from the date of publication of this proposal, any person may object or make comments on the proposal by: 

Email: Schoolconsult@islington.gov.uk

Post: Future of Highbury Quadrant Primary School, Director of Learning and Achievement, 222 Upper Street, London N1 1XR 

The closing date for responses is 5pm on 27 March 2025. 

If you require hard copies of this proposal, please email Schoolconsult@islington.gov.uk

Alternative formats

Download a copy of this notice in English, Arabic (العربية), Bengali, Pashto, Portuguese, Somali, or Turkish (Türkçe) from 'Documents'.

If you need this proposal in another format or another language, please email schoolconsult@islington.gov.uk

Background

We ran an informal consultation on this proposal from 7 November to 18 December 2024 and a copy of this consultation and a report on the responses received is available in 'Documents'.