On October 6th 2022, parents collecting their children from St Dominics school were shocked to discover that the Diocese of Westminster/school governers/local authority are now holding a consultation on closing the school, with closure earmarked for as soon as July 2023. 

This cannot be allowed to stand. The significant impacts such a closure would have on the students and their families cannot be underestimated.

Children, especially this generation of children, have had their education and their lives in general disrupted enough through the horrors of the pandemic, without adding this unnecessary and cruel surprise to their lives too. Children need and deserve stability, security and to be able to access an education. Removing this from the children by closing their school would be subjecting them to unnecessary stressors and cannot be allowed. The children are important and this must be recognised. This closure would NOT be for the good of the children.

If this is a funding issue, have all attempts been made to secure funding?  Where is the evidence of other options being explored before closure was the preferred option? As a parent, I have not seen this discussed by the Governors.

If all of the local schools are also not at capacity, why not merge schools and use the large spaces available? Why not use space for extra curricular activities to make money? Other local schools do this.

Why have two schools in this particular small area of NW5, where there is high socio economic deprivation, been earmarked for closure (Carlton school has already closed) when all primary schools across the borough including those in more affluent areas, are now also not at capacity? 

There are many questions to be answered, by the governers and decision makers, but the parents and children, and the hard working staff of St Dominics deserve better than this. 

Views of the parents, carers, children and local community have been actively asked for and will be considered. Hence this petition being set up.

Help us save our school. Help our children remain at the school they love, with their friends. 

Thank you for reading.