Falling demand for school places across London will have major implications for the future of education provision in the capital, a new report says.
The report by cross-party group London Councils warns that with the fall in demand set to worsen in many areas, school leaders and local authorities will have to make tough calls on merging and closing some schools.
London's schools will also need to make difficult decisions to balance their budgets, including having to narrow the curriculum, offer fewer after school clubs or reduce the number of teaching and support staff.
The report forecasts a drop in demand of 7,904 places across the capital in Reception and Year 7 – roughly equivalent to 262 classes – by 2027-28.
Reduced demand is linked to London’s birth rate, which fell by 17% between 2012 and 2021, and families leaving the capital for reasons including the Covid-19 pandemic, Brexit, and the cost-of-living crisis.
London Councils said authorities should be able to direct academies to reduce pupil numbers where needed, as they do with maintained schools.
