Barnet council committee scrutinises school sustainability framework development
Barnet council's Children and Education Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee met on Thursday 8 October 2026 to discuss a range of issues, including the development of a new framework for school sustainability. The ultimate goal of this framework is to support the long-term viability of all Barnet schools, as falling rolls are making school closures a necessity.
A working group has been formed to develop this framework, which will be used to measure schools against specific criteria. The criteria being considered are complex and not solely based on vacancies or budgetary difficulties. They will also include factors such as the postcodes of children attending the school and the proximity of alternative schools – within two miles for under-eights and three miles for over-eights. This group of headteachers is co-producing the criteria.
The working group has already held its first meeting, with a second scheduled for the following week. An update on their progress is expected at the next committee meeting. A recommendation will then be presented to the Cabinet in April, following a review by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in March. This timeline ensures a thorough development and implementation process for the sustainability framework.
Councillor Nigel Wildish had previously raised a question regarding the criteria for closing schools. The development of this new sustainability framework directly addresses this concern, as it will incorporate specific criteria for school closures. The framework will be used to match schools within particular planning areas, aiming to ensure a strategic approach to school provision across the borough.
The committee's agenda and public reports pack for the meeting can be accessed online.
Agenda frontsheet 08th-Oct-2026 19.00 Children and Education Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee
Public reports pack 08th-Oct-2026 19.00 Children and Education Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee