Parents have warned Newham Council that closing Calverton Primary School would be “the worst thing you can do”.
Council leaders look set to move forward with proposals to close the school in Custom House at a meeting next week. The council says the falling number of pupils at Calverton means it cannot afford to stay open.
But 150 people opposed the proposal in a consultation, saying it would be “deeply unfair,” “devastating for families” and “utterly catastrophic”.
One parent said: “The school is close to our home, making it a convenient and essential part of our daily lives, especially as a single mother of two that matters more than words can say.
“Calverton provides not only education but also stability and support for families like mine.”
She added: “I urge you to reconsider the proposal. The community needs Calverton, and so do our children.”
Several people raised worries about the effect closure would have on children with special education needs and disabilities (Send).
Calverton Primary School has a dedicated resource provision for children with Send called the Treehouse, which supports pupils with more severe learning difficulties.
One parent said: “The effect the closure will have on not only the SEN but all the pupils of Calverton will be utterly catastrophic. 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.”
Staff also raised concerns at a consultation meeting with the council.
A summary of the meeting reports that one staff member said 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.”
The amount of funding a school receives depends on the number of pupils it has. But a report set to be considered by council leaders say falling pupil numbers are affecting schools across London.
It says Calverton Primary School has a deficit of £1.1 million, while its number of pupils has been falling at a faster rate than at others.
In response to objections, the council said that it doesn’t expect pupil numbers to rise enough, even with new housing developments nearby.
And it says that it can’t direct new pupils to Calverton Primary School, as places are allocated based on parental choice.
The report says this means the school won’t be able to repay its deficit, which it expects to grow by £600,000 each year. It also says this will make it harder to maintain Calverton’s Send support.
It says: “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.”
Council leaders are set to consider the report at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
If they agree, the council will publish a formal notice of its proposal to closure the school. After this, there will be a four week period during which any person can submit comments on the proposal.
The final decision is set to be made by cabinet members in December and, if approved, the school would close in August 2026.
