Parents and teachers have called for Newham Council to “look at the long-term picture” as they battle to keep an outstanding east London school open.
Calverton Primary School, near London City Airport, is one of dozens of schools at risk of closure due to a drop in pupil numbers across the capital.
Newham Council has warned that the school faces a “significant financial challenge” as there is space for an extra 190 pupils at the primary school.
Calverton, a “forest school” that often teaches children in nature settings, has a high proportion of children with special educational needs (SEND) and has pupils travelling from as far away as Basildon in Essex.
Edel Gorry, who works as a teacher at Calverton Primary School and has two children studying at the school, explained that staff and parents are doing everything they can to make sure the site stays open.
Ms Gorry, 37, said: “It’s an important school and a big part of the community. It would be such a shame to make it close.
“Staff go above and beyond. The parents and community make me so proud to work there.”
The Year Six teacher explained that many parents have continued to trust the school and have not removed their children, despite fears that Calverton could close.
“The community is behind us,” she told the Standard. “The parents could take their kids out. If our school closes, they will be struggling to find a place for their children.
“Our parents know there is a risk of us closing. They are still trusting in the school. That’s a really difficult decision to make. That’s how much trust they have in us.”
Ms Gorry explained she feels hopeful about new developments in the area and believes that more families could move near the school in the future.
“There are new developments going up in Newham,” she continued. “These people could become parents. They should look at the long-term picture and keep Calverton open.”
Since the school was earmarked for closure, Calverton has received an Outstanding rating in all areas for the first time.
Louise O’Shea, who has worked as a teaching assistant and support worker since 2013, highlighted that the school has also had its best SATs results in a few years.
The mother of three sent all of her children to the primary school and has been part of the school community for 20 years.
She explained some members of staff have been teaching for over two decades at the site, which was “a credit to the school”.
She told the Standard: “They have helped bring all my children up. They have been a big part of their lives as well.
“We have a big group of parents who are absolutely fantastic. They are like our cheerleaders.
“They are really supportive. We call it our Caverton family. We have some a great group of parents around us.
“It would be terrible if there were no children. Children are the future.”
Ms O’Shea explained that some classrooms have remained full and that some year groups are oversubscribed.
The teacher added: “The classes are pretty full. We have got space for people applying but we can only take them in year groups where we have space.
“People are applying but we can only take them in certain year groups. It’s a bit up and down.”
She continued: “Everyone also goes above and beyond. If we can get more pupils in. More pupils means more money, so we have a chance to pay off our debt.”
Figures from Newham Council show that there are only two year groups at the school with more than 40 pupils.
The smaller class sizes mean the school gets less money from the government. There are around 229 pupils in the school despite there being space for 420 pupils.
The council has also said it believes the number of pupils at the school is set to drop further.
While some year groups remain full Ms O’ Shea conceded that pupil numbers have started to drop faster since the council announced it was considering closing Calverton.
The teacher explained families in temporary housing being moved out of the borough have contributed to the number of empty desks.
In some cases, families have been moved hundreds of miles to the north of the country “because there is no housing”.
“Sometimes people are in temporary housing,” Ms O’Shea added. “We have had families moved to Slough. Someone was offered a place in Wales.”
Liam O’Hanrahan, a teacher at the school, believes it will be a “tragedy” if Calverton were to close.
Mr O’Hanrahan previously told the Standard he first saw the price of housing and renting increase in the area around seven years ago, leading to families moving out of the area.
“We have seen a real reduction,” he explained. “Every time that housing is built there is the hope or the promise that there will be families moving in, but they don’t seem to. Or if they do, by the time their child is of school age they’re looking to move on.
“Flats are being built right next to the school but staff have very little confidence that anyone with a family is going to move into them.”
The teacher believes there needs to be more support and funding from the Government for children with SEND or schools like Calverton will continue to slip into a deficit.
“We can judge a society by how well we look after those with the most need,” he added. “Right now it feels like we are really failing. Until that changes, more schools will struggle in a similar way.”
Parents have also praised how teachers and the school have supported them through difficult times.
Another mother of three, who sent her children to Calverton Primary School, described how the school took care of her son when he was vulnerable during the Covid pandemic.
Michelle, whose son has just left Year Six, said her family were forced to isolate for months but that Calverton had been “very supportive” and set up an individual care plan for her son.
“I have been a big part of the community there for 20 years. I want my son to be able to go back and see his old teachers.
“My son loved his primary school. He did really well in school. It was more than we expected.”
Michelle explained that her son had been unable to attend school through the Covid pandemic as he suffers from a bowel condition.
“It’s such a good school,” she continued. “The teachers are really caring. I don’t want them all to lose their jobs. A lot of kids go from nursery all the way up.”
A Newham Council spokesperson said: “We recognise the excellent service staff at Calverton Primary School provides to children and commends the school for the its recent Outstanding rating following an Ofsted inspection.
“No decision on the school’s future has been taken. However, there has been a significant reduction in the number of pupils joining the school, which is currently running with fewer than half its 420 capacity.
“This high vacancy rate means that the school has become financially unviable.
“All the views submitted by parents, staff and other interested parties, including all support for, objections to, and comments on the proposal will be taken into account before a final decision is made on whether to proceed with the proposed closure.”
