St Dominic’s Catholic Primary School in Southampton Road

FIRST came the tears, then came the exodus, as children are already leaving a Gospel Oak primary school, less than a fortnight after a consultation into its closure was announced. Parents of children at St Dominic’s Catholic Primary School have said that they are ringing around schools and applying for places at primaries including Fleet, Rhyl, St Paul’s and St Patrick’s in a hope of securing their child a place, as they increasingly feel that the school will close. Many left meetings on Wednesday last week feeling despondent after their questions went unanswered.

THE QUESTIONS THEY REFUSE TO ANSWER

The New Journal has asked the Diocese of Westminster these questions – but has been told it will not be answering them:

• What attempts have been made to bring in extra revenue?
• What further cuts would have to be made to make the school financially sound if it stays open?
• What changes have been made so far to brings down costs?
• Are there enough places at other Catholic primaries in Camden to accommodate the children from St Dominic’s?
• If closure goes ahead, what would the diocese plan to do with the school building?

The Diocese of Westminster, which runs the school, said that falling pupil numbers have caused funding problems. A six-week consultation on the closure began last week. It is a problem seen elsewhere in Camden – fellow Catholic primary school St Aloysius shut at the end of 2019.

Mother-of-two Lorraine Kinnear is one of those who secured a place elsewhere so that one of her daughters, in Year 5, can leave the school.

She said: “It’s been a difficult decision but we thought it was best to get her moved and settled as soon as possible, so she can start, rather than delay it until the end of the year.

“The children keep coming home and say someone else has left or is leaving. This is their friends that are going.

“From all of the meetings it seems like a done deal. There is no alternative being suggested.”

Outside the school gates during pick-up time on Tuesday, parents were downbeat and not hopeful that the school would stay open. The problems were made worse by an email address set up to take responses to the consultation, which was not working over the weekend and was bouncing back emails.

Stephanie, a parent of two children at the school, one in reception and one in nursery said:

“Our questions haven’t been answered. None of my emails have been answered. It feels like no matter what we say, or ask, the school will close.”

Another parent said: “It just shows what bad faith they have acted in. On the one hand they are saying to respond to the consultation, on the other the email doesn’t work.”

Stephanie, an ex-pupil herself, now a mother-of-three, was outside school gates on Tuesday afternoon. “They were just rolling their eyes at us when we suggested fundraising. We asked whether the school could merge with another one, like they did with Carlton, but they just dismissed it,” she added.

“It is really sad. I’ll keep my two in here until it shuts because after that it will no longer be in existence.”

Another mother, Vicki, who has a daughter in reception and another who left the school’s Year 6 in 2018 said: “They will have been talking about this for some time. Why not tell us before the summer, otherwise I wouldn’t have sent her here as well if I’d known it would shut after a year.”

St Dominic’s only had 121 pupils on the roll when the consultation began. More departures will worsen the funding issues caused by a lack of pupils. Staff are already leaving the school – including a reception teacher who will not return to the school in Southampton Road after half term.

Georgia Collins, a mother with a Year 2 and a Year 6 pupil at the school said: “The meeting was pointless. We were just wanting them to say something, anything, but they were just sat there. They weren’t even taking notes.”

It comes as plans for housing in the area over the next decade could bring as many as 350 children in to the area. According to the housing mix in plans for Maitland Park and Bacton Low Rise, both a stone’s throw away from the school, there could be spaces for about 350 children to move in to the homes that will be built before the end of the decade.

While the saga surrounding Bacton Low Rise continues, with no start being made on construction since the old buildings were demolished, Maitland Park should be completed before the end of the year or early next year.

Prices begin at £522,000 for a one-bedroom flat according to Zoopla, and a two-bedroom home in the “Neos” development going for £714,000.

A meeting for the community will take place on November 1 at the school from 5pm. Despite questions to the Diocese of Westminster, it has chosen to issue a blanket statement alongside Camden Council.

A spokesperson said on Tuesday that a Q&A would go up on the school’s website once a week. The first update has not yet been published.

A Camden Council and Diocese of Westminster statement said: “The council has been working with our schools to address the issues of falling rolls and reduced funding over several years. As a result, a number of changes and decisions have been made by schools, the council and the Diocese of Westminster over the last four years.

“St Dominic’s Catholic Primary School has also seen a significant reduction in pupil numbers during this period. The decision to consult on whether the school should close was taken by the governing body on the evening of Thursday October 6 and staff and parents were told as soon as possible the following day.

“The consultation is running until November 30, and we encourage as many people as possible to get involved and have their say.”