Hampshire set for huge primary school shake-up as falling birth rates force closures and mergers
Hampshire is set to see a significant reshaping of its primary schools due to falling birth rates, with two schools already closed and several more set for merger.
The changes come as the county grapples with declining pupil numbers, a trend mirrored nationally due to falling birth rates.
According to the Office for National Statistics, children aged up to 15 now make up just 17.6 per cent of Hampshire’s population, down from 19.6 per cent in 2004.
A recent Freedom of Information (FOI) request showed that two schools in Hampshire have closed since 2022, and another three have been approved for amalgamation by Hampshire County Council.
There are also plans to close one school in Andover and merge another in Havant. In all but one case, the changes were prompted by low pupil numbers.
FOI data shows that Hatherden Church of England Primary School near Andover closed in August 2022 after receiving an academy order following an Ofsted inspection, combined with low pupil numbers.
Two years later, Ampfield Church of England Primary School near Romsey also shut, citing low pupil numbers and concerns over educational outcomes.
In other cases, the council has opted for amalgamations. That was the case for Peel Common Infant School and Peel Common Junior School in Gosport, which were approved for merger earlier this year.
The infant school will be repurposed as a new provision for children with special educational needs (SEND).
Similarly, Pennington Infant School and Pennington Church of England Junior School are set to merge into a single primary school from 1 January 2026.
Orchard Lea Infant School and Orchard Lea Junior School in Fareham have also been proposed for amalgamation as part of the Department for Education’s School Rebuilding Programme.
The new single primary school, built on the junior school site, is scheduled to open in July 2028 following major refurbishment.
Another school closure near Andover and another amalgamation in Havant are expected to be decided in the coming months for similar reasons.
A Hampshire County Council spokesperson said that falling birth rates have created significant challenges for schools, leading to proposals for amalgamations or closures.
However, they added that before such proposals are brought forward, alternatives are always explored.
The spokesperson said: “This can include sharing staff and resources with other schools, pursuing a federation arrangement where two or more schools operate under the same governing body, or helping to find an academy sponsor where appropriate.
“Amalgamations and closures are only ever proposed when all other possibilities have been fully exhausted and are always put forward with the pupils’ very best interests in mind.”
They added that declining pupil numbers, which are already affecting primary education, create a risk of further amalgamations or closures in the future.