Evening Standard
· collected 2026-10-10 · by Charlotte Lillywhite and Matt Watts
The article reports that Richmond's primary schools are facing budget deficits due to declining pupil numbers, with one such school, Kew Riverside Primary School, potentially closing by 2028/29 if current trends continue. AfC (the local authority) projects a deficit of over £400,000 for the affected schools as birth rates drop and families move away from the area. Parents are protesting the closure plans, emphasizing the school's positive recent Ofsted report and strong community support.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-10,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
AfC said that despite the school streamlining staff and cutting costs, it faces a projected budget deficit of more than £400,000 by 2028/29.
asserted
it → say → 2028/29
It comes as Richmond sees a steady drop in primary-school-aged children due to falling birth rates and families moving away.
asserted
families → come → rates
AfC said this means schools’ budgets are being squeezed as government funding depends on pupil numbers.
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funding → say → numbers
Pupil numbers are forecast to continue declining.
asserted
numbers → forecast → ?
Inner London has been particularly affected by closures, with eight of the 10 local authorities that have experienced the largest decreases in primary school numbers across the country coming in inner boroughs.
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that → affect → boroughs
Parents raised concerns about Kew Riverside’s proposed closure at a council meeting on Tuesday night.
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Parents → raise → night
In a written question ahead of the meeting, parent Adam Smith said: “Families returned from summer break only to have their children settled in and now face uncertainty about the school’s future.
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children → write → future
This is a thriving, close-knit school with strong community support, significant SEND [special educational needs and disabilities] provision and a very positive Ofsted inspection on July 26.
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This → thrive → July
“It is not currently in deficit, only projected deficit from 2027.
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It → project → 2027
Why are we being pushed towards closure now, rather than giving us the time and opportunity to build on the Ofsted outcome, attract new families and prove Kew can become financially sustainable?”
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Kew → push → families
Mr Smith urged the council to give the school time to pursue alternatives to closure.
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Smith → urge → closure
Lib Dem Councillor Julia Cambridge, Chair of the Education Committee, said no final decision had been made on the school’s future at a recent meeting, with the authority due to consider all feedback provided during the consultation once it closes on October 16.
asserted
it → say → October
Cllr Cambridge said the school could not cut costs further without compromising curriculum delivery, with its remaining reserves expected to be exhausted by the end of the academic year.
uncertain
reserves → say → year
She said: “It must be stated unequivocally that the proposal in no way is a reflection of any concerns regarding the quality of education, school leadership or teaching standards.
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proposal → say → education
Now this proposal is driven entirely by significant external borough-wide demographic changes, including a sustained drop in birth rates and broader demographic shifts across Greater London as families relocate and go out of the capital.”
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families → drive → capital
While pupil numbers in many London schools are falling, demand for SEND spaces is increasing.
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demand → fall → spaces
When a new specialist SEND school opened in Richmond in time for the current school year, Council Leader Gareth Roberts said it marked “an important milestone for Clarendon School, local families and our borough” as it would prevent SEND pupils travelling outside the borough.
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pupils → open → borough
SEND pupils ‘nurtured well’
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pupils → nurture → ?
In a report published in September, Ofsted praised staff at Kew Riverside for making sure pupils’ wellbeing and other needs were well met, while describing students as typically achieving well and the school’s curriculum as ambitious.
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wellbeing → publish → students
Inspectors found children with SEND and those known to social care were supported well, with disadvantaged students benefitting from thoughtful use of extra funding and pupils’ characters nurtured well.
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characters → find → funding
The committee meeting was told the school currently supports 17 pupils with SEND and six students with an education, health and care plan (EHCP).
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school → tell → plan
Shocked parents have also praised the school in letters published on its website, which call for it to stay open.
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it → praise → website
One parent wrote: “Kew Riverside is far more than just a school to our family.
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Riverside → write → family
It is a place where my children feel safe, supported, known and valued.
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children → feel → ?
The staff have built genuine relationships with our children, and as a parent, I have felt listened to and supported throughout our time there.”
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I → build → time
Another added: “I simply cannot understand why a school that is clearly thriving, with happy children, exceptional teachers, fantastic results, and such a positive Ofsted report, is being considered for closure.”
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that → add → closure
A third said: “We chose Kew Riverside because it feels like home and all the teachers are incredible especially with my son who needs special care.
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who → say → care
They have loved him and cared for him like their own.”
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They → love → own
The council is set to meet with staff and families in November to discuss their concerns.
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council → set → concerns
If the authority moves ahead with the proposals, it would shut the school at the end of the academic year.
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it → move → year
Every pupil would be guaranteed a place at Darell Primary School, in Kew, and could apply to other schools with space.
uncertain
pupil → guarantee → space
A separate proposal seeks to bring together Hampton Wick Infant and Nursery School and St John the Baptist Church of England Junior School to create a “single, sustainable 210-place primary school with an integrated nursery”.
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proposal → seek → nursery
This involves closing one school and extending the age range of the other due to falling pupil numbers at both.
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This → involve → both
The Aporia
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