Camden Council is set to launch a public consultation on potential structural changes for four of its schools, including proposals for reductions in pupil numbers, amalgamations, or outright closures.
The Cabinet has approved the undertaking of public consultations on options for St Alban's Church of England Primary School, St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, and La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School. These schools are facing significant challenges including declining pupil numbers, high surplus capacity, and substantial financial deficits.
The consultation period for these schools is scheduled to run for six weeks, commencing on November 2, 2026, and concluding on December 14, 2026. The proposals aim to address the borough-wide issue of falling demand for school places, which is impacting the financial sustainability of several educational institutions.
For St Alban's Church of England Primary School, options include reducing its Published Admission Number (PAN) from 30 to 15 pupils, amalgamating with another primary school, or closing the school entirely. St Alban's currently has a deficit of £99,000 and a surplus capacity of 64.3% across Reception to Year 6.
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School faces similar considerations, with proposals to reduce its PAN from 30 to 15 pupils or to close the school. The school has a deficit of £536,767 and a surplus capacity of 44.3% across Reception to Year 6.
St Patrick's Catholic Primary School is also considering a PAN reduction from 30 to 15 pupils, amalgamation with another primary school, or closure. The school has a deficit of £329,578 and a surplus capacity of 50% across Reception to Year 6.
La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School has a broader range of options, including reducing its PAN, federating with another secondary school, ceasing Year 7 to 11 provision while retaining post-16 education, or full closure. This secondary school faces significant financial challenges, with a deficit of £1.26 million and a Year 7 surplus capacity of 79.2%.
The decision to consult follows evidence of a sustained decline in pupil numbers across Camden, mirroring trends in other London boroughs. This decline is attributed to falling birth rates, outward migration of families, and changes in housing patterns. Beyond these factors, wider demographic and economic influences, including housing affordability and migration patterns, are also contributing. Changes in housing, such as increased use of properties for short-term rent and student accommodation, are also noted as drivers.
As school funding is largely pupil-led, falling rolls reduce income while costs remain relatively fixed, leading to increasing financial pressures. Camden Council has a statutory duty to ensure sufficient, high-quality, and sustainable school places are available. The School Sufficiency Programme (SSP), launched in July 2025, provides a coordinated framework to address these challenges by integrating admissions, SEND, and financial data to identify schools at risk and support system reform. While the SSP has helped mitigate pressures, the current evidence indicates that structural changes are necessary for long-term sustainability. Reducing Published Admission Numbers (PAN) and establishing federations are among the options being considered as part of these efforts.
During the consultation period, stakeholders, including families, schools, diocesan partners, and the wider community, will be invited to share their views. The council will consider all feedback before making any final decisions. If agreed by Cabinet, the outcomes of the consultations would be reviewed in February 2027, with Cabinet considering which options to take forward. Should Cabinet decide to issue statutory notices for school closures, a four-week statutory representation period would follow. Final decisions on whether to close schools could be made by Cabinet in April 2027, after considering a public report on the outcome of any statutory representation period. The implementation date for any changes will depend on the nature of the decision made.
Further details on the proposals can be found in the Public reports pack for the Cabinet meeting on 20 October 2026.