More South London schools may be forced to reduce the number of classes they offer per year group due to falling pupil numbers.
Wandsworth Council is considering reducing forms of entry at more primary and secondary schools across the borough to manage the declining demand for places.
The authority has been using this strategy in recent years to prevent closures, yet four primary schools in the borough have shut since 2023. Oasis Academy Putney is also due to close this month, just nine years after opening, bringing the total to five.
A new report by council officers said birth rates are expected to continue to fall until at least 2030, leading to a reduced need for school places for over a decade. This trend could shift if birth rates rise as more affordable housing opens in Wandsworth. Secondary pupil numbers are also expected to begin declining from the 2027/28 academic year.
“All this has large implications for the schooling system,” the report said.
The report said more primary schools in Wandsworth are expected to have to reduce their forms of entry in future to tackle excess capacity in the schooling system.
The council is already working with two primary schools to combine their year groups, which it hopes will be a temporary measure to help secure their long-term future though it has not named them. The report said a reduction of six forms of entry across secondary schools in Wandsworth may also be needed by 2031/32, and that discussions with schools are ongoing.
The report said: “The next 10 years will be a challenging time for school budgets as the system adapts to a steady decline in pupil rolls and the resulting reduction in school budgets if nothing is done. It is critical that we work to ensure school classes are as full as possible.”
“It will often be challenging for individual schools to accept reductions to forms of entry, but it is important that we understand and work towards school sustainability and the bigger picture.”