Fall in class sizes

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StreathamHill100
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Fall in class sizes

Postby StreathamHill100 » Tue Nov 29, 2022 1:56 pm

A friend has mentioned that Henry Cavendish in Balham is planning on combining the two Year 5 classes into one class, as numbers are low in the two classes that they currently have.

Just wondered if this is the same across other local primary schools?

If it is it's not great for the schools losing the funding per pupil, but suppose it might improve your chances of getting a place at your preferred secondary school if the fall in numbers is due to families leaving London....
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2009Kat
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Re: Fall in class sizes

Postby 2009Kat » Tue Nov 29, 2022 3:45 pm

Yes, this is a general trend across primary schools in Wandsworth at the moment.
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Goldhawk
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Re: Fall in class sizes

Postby Goldhawk » Tue Nov 29, 2022 7:18 pm

Not sure how much has been the fall in ppl leaving London vs ppl moving to private
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2009Kat
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Re: Fall in class sizes

Postby 2009Kat » Tue Nov 29, 2022 7:57 pm

Also, for lower primary years, falling birth rate after 2012 peak.
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NVHusband
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Re: Fall in class sizes

Postby NVHusband » Wed Nov 30, 2022 6:42 am

Yes, it’s a trend across all major cities around the world. Plenty of broadsheets have been highlighting one of the impacts of Covid. Then we had Brexit and the post 2012 surge now reducing (this surge was mainly driven at the time from Europe as some of their economies struggled in aftermath of the GFC).

Surely you have read the articles notably on the surge in property prices in the country and commutable suburbs?

The biggest movement of people out of cities in decades in “race for space”. Also accelerated the usual shift from Zone1 (single), to Zone 2 (married with young kids) to Surrey/ Kent when eldest hits 8 years old…

Interestingly however, this trend to country is slowly reversing as employers want more staff in the office.

It won’t be a like-for-like reversal but think there will be a surge in post Covid migration of notably younger folk/ students (as noted in recent net immigration numbers). So I expect another surge in 10 years time as current arrivals get married gave kids and the cycle carries on but hopefully with another pandemic that created the spikes/ troughs.
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Starr
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Re: Fall in class sizes

Postby Starr » Wed Nov 30, 2022 8:23 am

People can't afford to have children any more with all the rises in housing costs and extortionate childcare costs and lack of flexibility in workplaces.
This part of South London is no longer an affordable area for many so they move out for more space emigrate or don't have children.
This is what is happening.
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SWtastic
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Re: Fall in class sizes

Postby SWtastic » Wed Nov 30, 2022 9:41 am

From what I've read the local authority is forecasting something like 500+ fewer children coming through the year groups in primary schools in the next few years, which will have a big impact on funding and the financial viability of some schools.  This will then obviously impact on secondary schools further down the line.  Wandsworth, having increased numbers at a number of secondary schools and spent a fortune on new buildings etc. now finds the student numbers aren't going to be there to fill them in near future.  
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Mum2theG
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Re: Fall in class sizes

Postby Mum2theG » Mon Dec 05, 2022 2:26 pm

Some schools are reduced down to one class entry in reception now and there has definitely been a drop off in class numbers as the kids get older. 

I assume as others do this is down to people moving out of the area and also the whole 'state till eight' trend, those who can afford to do so send their kids to feeder private prep schools to avoid 11+ etc and prep them for a private secondary education.

Broadwater primary school is being closed completely and turned into a much needed school for educational special needs.

I think the demographic is definitely changing in the area as it becomes even more unaffordable for most young families with house prices and nursery fees reaching eye watering figures.
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Reallllly
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Re: Fall in class sizes

Postby Reallllly » Mon Dec 05, 2022 11:12 pm

The birth rate in the uk is about 1.5 we need around 2.2 to maintain our population so this isn’t just a London problem. Given the eye watering cost of childcare and the environmental, economic instability I can’t see things will improve soon. I do feel genuinely anxious for my children’s future.
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