Is it possible to imagine Stanford Primary School bustling with activity? Sadly, it closed its doors on August 31 2024.
Stanford Primary School, located on Chilmark Road in Norbury, once served the community. It bordered Croydon and Lambeth. Let’s delve into its story.
Stanford Primary School became part of the PACE Academy Trust in 2018. This was through a lease from the council. At its peak, the school accommodated 420 pupils, alongside a nursery.
However, several factors led to its closure. A reduction in school-age children in the area played a significant role. The expansion of a primary school in neighboring Lambeth also contributed. By October 2023, only 130 children were enrolled. A mere nine children were in the reception year.
PACE Academy Trust applied to the Secretary of State for Education in spring 2024. The Secretary of State subsequently ordered the school’s closure at the end of the summer term.
Following the closure, efforts were made to find alternative schools for the students. The school successfully placed its 24 SEND students at nearby Liberty Primary School. Initially, these SEND students remained on the Stanford site, under Liberty Primary School’s care. They were waiting to move to the Liberty Primary School site in Mitcham.
After the school closed, the site was handed back to Merton Council. The council considered three options for the site’s future. These included continued use for education, other council purposes, or sale for development.
Merton Council concluded there was no educational need for the Stanford site. They cited a surplus of mainstream school places nearby. The site was deemed unsuitable for a special school due to accessibility. Its location on the borough’s edge made it less suitable for other council uses.
The council decided the best option was to sell the site. The sale could allow developers to build new housing. Merton is assessing the feasibility of housing development. Approval from the Secretary of State is needed before any housing development can proceed.
Stanford Primary School had a school capacity of 206. At the time of closing, 129 pupils attended the school. Of these, 52 were eligible for free school meals.
The last Ofsted inspection on March 21 2023, rated the school as “Requires Improvement”. Behaviour and attitudes and personal development were rated as “Good”.
Stanford Primary School’s story reflects changing demographics and educational needs. The school served its community for many years. It is now set to potentially transform into a housing development. The phone number for general inquiries was 02087643892.