Introduction

On Wednesday 25 November 2020 Tower Hamlets Cabinet approved the recommendation to publish a statutory notice to publish a statutory notice on the proposal to close St Matthias Church of England Primary School.

Notice is given in accordance with Section 15 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 (as amended by the Education Act 2011) and the School Organisation (Establishment and Discontinuance of Schools) Regulations 2013 that Tower Hamlets local authority intends to discontinue St Matthias Primary School with effect from 31 August 2021.

You can read the complete consultation document.

You can read representations received in response to the statutory (public) notice St Matthias.

Contact details

Name and address of local authority publishing the proposal:

Tower Hamlets Council, Town Hall, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, London E14 2BG.

Name, address and category of schools proposed to be amalgamated:

St Matthias Church of England Primary School, Bacon St, Shoreditch, London E2 6DY

Implementation

Date on which it is proposed to close the school:

Tuesday 31 August 2021.

It is proposed to implement the closure as follows:

Following the closure of St Matthias Primary School it is proposed for the remaining pupils on roll at that time to transfer to other primary schools in the local area. The local authority has identified sufficient vacancies at local ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ primary schools within 0.2 miles from St Matthias, and including places at nearby Christchurch, Church of England Primary School in Brick Lane, E1 (0.9 mile).

There are also vacancies at other schools in the areas to the west of borough, providing St Matthias families with a range of options to secure a suitable school for their child. The local authority will endeavour to meet parental preferences for school places, where possible.

The local authority is already undertaking preliminary work with St Matthias, Christchurch and other schools in the area on the necessary transition planning for children and families, should the Council decide for the School to close on the date proposed.

Reason for Closure:

The local authority, in partnership with the governing body of St Matthias has reluctantly determined that school should now close due to a substantial decline in its pupil numbers over an extended period and the associated impact on its educational and financial viability.

Pupil numbers in Tower Hamlets schools are currently falling in the west of the borough where St Matthias School is situated. This means that St Matthias, along with other schools, has not had enough pupil numbers to fill its classes. The school is now well below its capacity in all of its year groups and this is causing increasing difficulty in maintaining a broad and balanced curriculum with enhanced extra-curricular activities.

The fall in pupil numbers has adversely affected this the school’s budget, which is now at significant risk. This has required St Matthias to take a number of measures to protect the quality of education, including considering whether it would be necessary to apply to the local authority for a licensed deficit. However, it is clear that should a licensed deficit be required the School would not be able to repay this within the required three-year timeframe, in accordance with the school funding regulations. The local authority is not allowed to continue to fund schools that are not financially viable and, after considering the alternative options available, it was determined that it would be necessary to propose for St Matthias School to close.