We oppose Southwark Council's proposals to reduce the intake of Ivydale Primary from 3 to 2 forms of entry from September 2023 and to close the Inverton Road building from September 2022 returning the school to a single site.

We recognise the financial difficulties facing schools however we are concerned that:

• Many local children will not be able to secure places as a smaller school.
• Ivydale has consistently recruited 90+ children into Reception - it is a popular community school
• The RIBA award-winning new school buildings have vastly improved the space and education available to students and should remain part of Ivydale.
• By moving to one site the remaining building and playground will be overcrowded. There will be 20 classes on a site that is capable of only accommodating 15 classes.
• Essential learning, pastoral support and the wider, creative curriculum will be compromised at a time we should be prioritising the wellbeing of young people who have been badly affected by the pandemic.
• There will be serious damage to the education on offer for the transition period of 5-6 years.

We ask that the Leader of Southwark Council and the Cabinet Member for Children and Schools reject these proposals and look for alternative ways to reduce deficits in the borough's school budgets.