London is becoming a city without children

[SueFinanceManager]

HI

Just reading this article London is becoming a city without children

At a glance:

• The birth rate in London has fallen by 17% in nine years
• Families are being squeezed out as house prices and rent become unaffordable for many
• As a result schools are closing in their droves as they struggle to fill classrooms
• The government says it is up to local authorities "to balance the supply and demand of school places"

Are any of you based in London and seeing your numbers falling?

It must be very worrying for all concerned, both the staff but also the families that wish to remain at a school under the threat of closure.

Are you in a nursery setting that is also facing closure due to lack of numbers?

Would love to hear your thoughts on the subject if you are experiencing a drop in numbers, not just in London.

Sue 

[BenTapestrySupport]

I was shocked, but not surprised, to read that some schools are closing or being made smaller. I have been following how reactive some local authorities have been to fluctuating student numbers, and I am concerned about how they will deal with any larger cohorts in the future.

This issue is often associated with rural areas, where students may have to travel long distances to find a school with space. However, the fact that this is happening in cities is worrying, as children are the future of these areas. Without children growing up and forming roots in these communities, there is a risk that the area becomes an area that struggles later on. 

If there is a larger cohort in the future, some of the challenges that local authorities will face are finding enough space to accommodate all of the students, hiring enough teachers to provide a quality education, providing enough resources and space, as well as ensuring that all students have access to extracurricular activities.

These challenges are not insurmountable, but they will require careful planning and coordination by local authorities. It is important to remember that the future of our communities depends on the education of our children. We must do everything we can to ensure that they have access to a quality education, regardless of where they live.

Personally I think that local authorities should be doing all they can to encourage young families to stay or come to the area - but do also realise that this may be something outside of their control. 

[SueFinanceManager]

On 16/05/2023 at 12:07, BenTapestrySupport said:

If there is a larger cohort in the future, some of the challenges that local authorities will face are finding enough space to accommodate all of the students, hiring enough teachers to provide a quality education, providing enough resources and space, as well as ensuring that all students have access to extracurricular activities.

The potential issues related to schools not having enough staff as they too can not afford to live in the area is also a concern.  Once they move away they may not be inclined to go back especially if they have settled their own families somewhere else ☹️

[BenTapestrySupport]

Exactly - and one thing I think that helps settings and schools, is when the staff are part of, and understand, the community of their students.