Lambeth Council has approved the merger of St. Bede's Catholic Infant and Nursery School and St. Bernadette Catholic Junior School, a move aimed at securing the future of Catholic education in the borough.

The decision, made during a Cabinet meeting on Monday, 30 June 2025, will see St. Bernadette's close and St. Bede's extend its age range to create an all-through primary school on the St. Bede's site, effective 1 September 2025.

Councillor Ben Kind, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, introduced the proposal, citing falling birth rates and financial pressures as key factors driving the amalgamation. Both St. Bede's and St. Bernadette's have faced challenges due to declining pupil rolls, which has put pressure on school finances, as school funding is directly driven by pupil numbers, and unfilled school places lead to a reduction in budgets, according to the report Amalgamation of St Bedes Catholic Infant School with St Bernadette Catholic Junior School and subse. He stated the merger, proposed by the governing board, is about:

acting proactively and responsibly to create an all three primary schools that will secure long term sustainability, reduce an unnecessary transition point for children and preserve Catholic education in that borough and I think importantly it's also to note that it will bring some savings for the school in how they manage their site.

A stacked bar chart showing the declining number of students at St. Bede's Catholic Infant & St. Bernadette schools from 2012/13 to 2024/25.
A stacked bar chart showing the declining number of students at St. Bede's Catholic Infant & St. Bernadette schools from 2012/13 to 2024/25.

Andrew Carter, an officer in attendance, clarified that the amalgamation is a merger, ensuring there is no confusion about the merged school being complete. Sophie Garner, also an officer, added that the merger would mean fewer transition points for vulnerable children, including those with SEND1, and would support parents.

Eva Ostrinska, headteacher of both schools, explained that the decision to move to the St. Bede's site was based on logistics, space, and proximity to St. Bede's Church and the church community. Maeve Korin, chair of governors, added that having a single site would ease management and facilitate strategic decision-making.

Regarding staffing, the report Amalgamation of St Bedes Catholic Infant School with St Bernadette Catholic Junior School and subse states that no teaching staff redundancies are anticipated, and all permanent staff on a federation contract would be moving to the new site, unless they voluntarily chose to leave. However, two administrative roles at St. Bernadette's may be affected, with discussions ongoing regarding redeployment or voluntary redundancy.

Councillor Donatus Anyanwu, Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities, inquired about the future of the St. Bernadette site and any financial implications. It was confirmed that the decision regarding the site rests with the diocese, and the amalgamation is expected to improve the schools' financial position over time. The amalgamation is expected to bring a cost saving of approximately £300,000 in the first year, with ongoing savings to the general fund exceeding £500,000, according to the report Amalgamation of St Bedes Catholic Infant School with St Bernadette Catholic Junior School and subse.

The cabinet agreed to the following recommendations:

  1. To agree the amalgamation merger of St. Bede's Catholic Infant and Nursery with St. Bernadette's Catholic Junior to take effect by 1st of September 2025.
  2. To agree the extension of age range at St. Bede's Catholic Infant and Nursery School.
  3. To agree the closure of St. Bernadette's Catholic Junior School.

  1. Special Educational Needs and Disability, a term used to describe learning difficulties or disabilities that make it harder for children to learn than most children of the same age. ↩