Proposed closure of Gallions Mount Primary School

The Royal Borough of Greenwich is exploring plans to close Gallions Mount Primary School in Plumstead due to falling pupil numbers.  

Despite huge efforts by the school to encourage more families to choose it, Gallions Mount has experienced a decreasing number of pupils in recent years. The school reduced to a one class per year school back in 2021 but unfortunately, that still has not done enough. With 210 spaces available and only 169 rolls filled, the school is losing funding year after year. 

As school budgets are largely based on pupil numbers, the school has experienced growing pressures on its finances. Low pupil numbers also impact school experience for students, as there are fewer opportunities to socialise and less staff.  

A council spokesperson said: “If a school is unsustainable it can create uncertainty for pupils and the last thing we want is families to feel unsettled. We want every child in our borough to reach their full potential, which is why this decision is not easy, but it is in the long-term interest of pupils and their families. We understand this isn’t an easy process.

"The vast majority of our primary schools are rated as Oustanding or Good by Ofsted, and our teams will work hard to make sure everyone impacted by the potential closure gets the support and guidance that they need.” 

There are more than enough spaces in other local schools to accommodate Gallions Mount’s existing pupils. In the event of closure, all impacted children will be well supported by the council to ensure a seamless transition. 

Families, staff and residents are invited to give their feedback on the closure proposals and learn more about it here.