The Fox Federation Governing Board, working with the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea (RBKC), is consulting on amalgamating Ashburnham Community School and Park Walk Primary School from 1 September 2027. The combined school would operate from Park Walk, be called Park Walk Primary School and remain part of the Fox Federation. Every existing pupil would be guaranteed a place. No final decision has been made.

Falling pupil numbers across central London and associated funding pressures threaten long-term sustainability. Ashburnham currently has 125 pupils out of 210 places and Park Walk has 175 out of 210. Ashburnham’s shortfall is forecast to exceed £1 million by 2029-30, and Park Walk’s is forecast at around £400,000 by 2030-31. The original document includes RBKC’s borough-wide pupil-number chart.

One school would operate from the current Park Walk site from 1 September 2027, subject to approval. All existing pupils would have places. Year groups with more than 30 pupils would have two classes for as long as required. The longer-term intention is a single class of up to 30 pupils per year group. Seedlings Nursery would not be affected.

Transition arrangements would aim to preserve friendships, familiar peers and relationships with staff. Children would continue the Fox Federation curriculum and benefit from inclusive practice, pastoral support, SEND expertise, clubs and enrichment activities.

Every current pupil with SEND or an EHCP would have a guaranteed place. Children’s individual needs and existing support would be considered in transition planning. Park Walk already has accessibility provisions, including a lift.

If a combined year group contains more than 30 pupils, it would initially have two classes for as long as numbers require. Class organisation would be decided during transition planning, taking educational, social and pastoral needs and friendships into account.

The Park Walk building has capacity for both school communities, has benefited from significant Local Authority investment and has accessibility arrangements including a lift. Room arrangements would be reviewed if the proposal progresses.

The Governing Board has considered continuing separately with further cost reductions, closing one or both schools, and amalgamation. It regards amalgamation as the strongest option to explore, but is seeking alternative views and concerns.

Combining resources on an appropriately sized site could direct more funding and staff expertise toward teaching, SEND, pastoral care, curriculum, arts, sport and wider enrichment, creating greater long-term stability.

A combined school may require changes to roles and fewer posts overall. No individual staffing decisions have been made. Any proposed staffing changes would undergo appropriate HR, staff, trade union and Local Authority consultation, with a commitment to avoid compulsory redundancy wherever possible.

All children currently attending either school would have guaranteed places at the combined school. The full consultation states that children applying to Reception at both schools for September 2027 would be guaranteed a place. Normal admission criteria would apply to September 2028 applications, including sibling preference.

The governor-led consultation opened on 15 October 2026 and closes on 10 December 2026. Governors consider responses on 15 December 2026 and decide whether to recommend the proposal. If progressed, RBKC is expected to undertake a statutory consultation in February 2027. Only RBKC can make the final decision.

Complete the consultation response form in Annex A of the full PDF and return it to either school office, attend a meeting or raise questions through either school. Responses must include the respondent’s name and be submitted by 10 December 2026. Ashburnham: Wednesday 11 November at 9am in person and Friday 13 November at 3pm online. Park Walk: Tuesday 10 November at 9am in person and Thursday 12 November at 5pm online.

Both school websites and school offices have further information. The full original PDF contains the consultation response form and the RBKC pupil-number chart. Some implementation details cannot be finalised before a decision is made.

Sustained falling pupil numbers are reducing school funding. Both schools have made efforts to attract pupils and review expenditure, but demographic and financial pressures remain.

Amalgamation is intended to bring two school communities together in a planned transition with guaranteed places for existing pupils. Governors considered other options; this is a proposal for consultation, not a final decision.

The FAQ says Ashburnham ended summer 2026 with a shortfall of approximately £71,000, projected to reach £1 million in four years. Park Walk’s shortfall is projected to reach approximately £400,000 in four years. The combined school would have one budget and would not take on Ashburnham’s existing deficit.

Yes. Every pupil at either school at the point of amalgamation would have a guaranteed place. Parents would still be able to apply elsewhere, subject to vacancies.

The FAQ describes the usual Local Authority admissions process and sibling priority for September 2027, with distances measured from the Park Walk entrance if a distance tie-break is needed. The full consultation separately states that 2027 Reception applicants to the two schools would be guaranteed places; consult both PDFs for the original wording.

The long-term intention is one class of up to 30 in each year group. Where numbers exceed 30, two classes would operate for as long as required.

Class groupings would be planned only if amalgamation proceeds and would account for children’s educational, social and pastoral needs.

Transition plans would seek to preserve familiar peers, friendships and staff relationships and provide ongoing SEND and pastoral support.

Both schools follow Fox Federation expectations and safeguarding procedures. A transition programme would support relationships across both communities.

The Park Walk uniform is proposed. The FAQ says Ashburnham families would mainly need three branded items and that support would be provided.

The schools currently share the same start and finish times, which the Federation intends to maintain. Clubs and wraparound provision would continue to be an important part of the offer.

If vacated, the Local Authority as landlord would take responsibility for the site, which is currently designated for education and community use.

Park Walk Primary School under the current proposal.

The intention is to retain experience and expertise where possible. Staff are also being consulted, and changes would follow appropriate employment consultation processes.

Governors consider attributed responses on 15 December 2026 and decide whether to recommend amalgamation. Only the Local Authority can make the final decision after the statutory process.

No. Governors consider reasons, concerns and alternative proposals, not simply the number of responses for or against.

Complete a response form, use an electronic response option if provided by the schools, attend a consultation meeting or raise questions with a school office. Deadline: Thursday 10 December 2026.

Some implementation details can only be decided if the proposal progresses. The Federation intends to distinguish clearly between what is known and still undecided.