Responding to a new report from the National Audit Office (NAO) on falling pupil numbers in primary schools, which calls for a 'coordinated response from DfE, local authorities and academy trusts', Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said:

“The decline in primary pupil numbers is hitting some schools hard – especially smaller ones that have less buffer to navigate fluctuating budgets. We have seen many schools already close – in particular in London, but in other higher cost of living areas too.

“That said, there are areas of the country where demand is higher than ever – driven by population changes as families move, or by high levels of house building.

“More could absolutely be done to balance these demands and ensure that primary school places are available in the areas they need to be – and to protect schools in areas with falling roles from closure. There is a real opportunity here for the government to use these population changes to deliver positive benefits, like smaller class sizes and its ambition of more SEND inclusion in mainstream.”