Consultation on the future of St Jude and St Paul’s Church of England 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 St Jude and St Paul’s Church of England 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

St Jude and St Paul’s Church of England Primary School, 10 Kingsbury Road, London N1 4AZ, a Voluntary Aided School.

Implementation

We propose to close St Jude and St Paul’s Church of England Primary School on 31 August 2025.

Reason for Closure

The proposal is due to a fall in pupil numbers and the associated impact on the future viability of St Jude and St Paul’s Church of England Primary School.

St Jude and St Paul’s Church of England Primary School has been acutely impacted by reduced pupil demand in the area and has the lowest pupil numbers of all primary schools in Islington.

Pupil numbers and admissions

According to the last school census in October 2024, there were 118 pupils on roll at St Jude and St Paul’s Church of England Primary School.

The school’s age range is 3-11 years, and provision is available to boys and girls. There is no boarding provision.

There were 12 pupils on roll with Education, Health, and Care Plans in October 2024.

Pupil numbers across Reception to Year 6 were 113 in October 2024, significantly lower than the capacity of the school which is 210 places. This means that St Jude and St Paul’s Church of England Primary School has a 46% vacancy rate.

Displaced pupils

All existing pupils can 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 St Jude and St Paul’s Church of England Primary School. The level of existing surplus school places within the local Planning Area and other Islington 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

Closing St Jude and St Paul’s Church of England Primary School will reduce the balance of Church of England school provision in the local area. However, there are three other Church of England schools within statutory walking distance to St Jude and St Paul’s Church of England Primary School which currently have vacancies: St Mary’s Church of England Primary School, Islington (1.3 miles, 45 vacancies as at December 2024), St Matthias Church of England Primary School, Hackney (0.4 miles, 59 vacancies as at December 2024), Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School, Hackney (0.5 miles, 13 vacancies as at December 2024).

The six year groups who will be displaced in September 2025 (Year R to Year 5) comprise 99 pupils. There are 108 vacancies in those cohorts at the three Church of England schools referred to above. The number of vacancies are sufficient overall and in Year R and Year 1, but with shortfalls of 3, 9, 9 and 3 places in Y2 to Y5 respectively, if all the St Jude and St Paul’s pupils were to seek a Church of England school place.

Maintained nursery school

Not applicable

Sixth form provision

Not applicable

Special educational needs provision

The existing provision at St Jude and St Paul’s Church of England 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 16 primary schools located less than one mile from St Jude and St Paul’s Church of England Primary School.

There are three other Church of England schools within statutory walking distance to St Jude and St Paul’s Church of England Primary School which currently have vacancies: St Mary’s Church of England Primary School (1.3 miles), St Matthias Church of England Primary School, Hackney (0.4 miles), Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School, Hackney (0.5 miles).

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 St Jude and St Paul’s Church of England 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 ), 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 12 November to 20 December 2024 and a copy of this consultation and a report on the responses received is available in 'Documents'.