Southwark Council's Education and Local Economy Scrutiny Commission has identified falling school rolls as a significant concern for the borough, with the trend continuing downwards. The issue was a key topic during a discussion about potential subjects for the commission's 2026-27 work programme.
Councillor Felicia Johnston highlighted the trend, referencing the recent closures of Mary Magdalene and Charlotte Sharman primary schools. She noted that last year saw the lowest number of school applications received in Southwark, underscoring the need to monitor the situation closely. The Chair of the commission recalled a past strategy that addressed falling school rolls when the borough had invested £100 million in schools, only to find a subsequent shortage of children to fill them.
The commission is considering falling school rolls in Southwark
as a potential topic for its work programme. Councillor Johnston emphasised the importance of keeping an eye on the downward trend and considering the future use of the now-vacant school buildings, ensuring they are retained for community use and the education system. While specific plans for the buildings of the recently closed Mary Magdalene and Charlotte Sharman primary schools were not detailed, the commission acknowledged the need to consider their future.
The commission deferred a final decision on its work programme until its October meeting. This delay is to allow for further information gathering, including discussions with executive members and senior officers. The report for the work programme discussion recommends that the commission use the period between now and the October scrutiny meetings to undertake these information gathering exercises to identify a list of potential topics for prioritisation and agreement.
Agenda frontsheet Thursday 23-Jul-2026 19.00 Education and Local Economy Scrutiny Commission.pdf Public reports pack Thursday 23-Jul-2026 19.00 Education and Local Economy Scrutiny Commission.pdf
