Concern for SEND pupils as school's £1.1m in debt

Calverton Primary School cannot afford to stay open

A council has been warned that closing a primary school in east London will have a "catastrophic" impact on children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

The number of pupils attending Calverton Primary School in Newham is falling at a faster rate than other schools and as funding is dependent on pupil numbers, it now has a deficit of £1.1m.

Parents have raised concerns as the school has a dedicated resource for children with SEND called the Treehouse.

In response to a consultation on the closure, Newham Council said it did not expect pupil numbers to rise enough, even with new housing developments nearby.

In the consultation, about 150 people opposed the proposal, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

"The effect the closure will have on not only the SEN but all the pupils of Calverton will be utterly catastrophic," one parent said.

"All the confidence and trust that has built up over the years, it will be snatched away from them."

They added: "My child is SEN and has come a long way since reception. Her words and understanding are getting better daily because the staff know her and have an amazing relationship with her.

"This will set her back having to start afresh elsewhere."

Another, a single mother of two, said Calverton provided not only education, but "stability and support for families like mine".

'Money and numbers'

Staff also raised concerns at a consultation meeting with the council.

A summary of the meeting reports that one staff member asked: "Has the effect of and the impact teachers make on these children's lives been considered?

"Everything is not about money and numbers."

In response, the council said it could not direct new pupils to the school as places were allocated based on parental choice.

The consultation report said this meant the school would not be able to repay its deficit, which it expected it would grow by £600,000 each year.

"Unfortunately for Calverton Primary School there is not a solution which enables high quality education to continue within the available resources.

"This is why we must now consider the option of closure outlined in this report."

Councillors will consider the report at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

If they agree to close the school, the council will publish a formal notice of its proposal. Then there will be a four-week period where people can submit comments on the proposal.

The final decision is set to be made by cabinet members in December and, if approved, the school will close in August 2026.