Council Proposing Closure of Northolt Primary School

Viking could shut with pupils transferring to Downe Manor

Viking Primary School entrance

September 15, 2026

Ealing Council is preparing to launch a formal consultation on the future of primary school places in the Greenford–Northolt–Perivale (GNP) West planning area, as falling pupil numbers and rising financial pressures force borough-wide rethinking of how schools are organised.

The proposal recommends seeking public views on a series of options — including the preferred plan to amalgamate Viking Primary School and Downe Manor Primary School. Under this option, Viking would close at the end of the current academic year, with Downe Manor expanding back to two forms of entry to accommodate all Viking pupils.

The move comes amid a sustained decline in primary enrolment across London. Ealing’s reception intake has fallen by more than 900 pupils since its peak in 2014/15 — a drop of around 20%. Although the council has already reduced admission numbers at 18 schools, some areas, including GNP West, continue to experience significant surplus capacity.

In Northolt, reception numbers have fallen sharply from 285 in 2014/15 to just 175 in 2025/26. Downe Manor, a modern PFI-funded school with capacity for 60 pupils per year, has been operating at half its physical size and running substantial annual deficits due to fixed PFI costs. Viking, meanwhile, occupies an ageing building graded “L” in the Department for Education’s condition survey — far below average — and is forecast to enter deficit from 2026/27.

The council warns that maintaining two separate one-form-entry schools in the area is no longer financially or educationally sustainable. Both schools have had 20 or fewer first-preference applications for reception places in each of the past three years, and projections show demand stabilising at around 160–180 pupils per year — far below the combined physical capacity.

The report states that Downe Manor’s building can comfortably accommodate two classes per year, and its leadership is considered secure following its imminent federation with Gifford Primary School under the new Northala Federation. Around 85% of Viking pupils live within a mile of Downe Manor, and analysis shows sufficient capacity at nearby schools for families who prefer alternative placements.

If taken forward, all Viking pupils from Reception to Year 5 in 2026/27 would automatically transfer to Downe Manor on 1 September 2027, with headteachers from both schools supporting the transition. Families would not need to apply for places, though they would retain the right to seek alternatives.

The council stresses that no final decision has been made. The consultation — expected to run this autumn — will gather views from parents, staff, governors and residents before a detailed report is presented to Cabinet in December 2026. Any statutory proposals would then undergo a further representation period before a final determination.

Ealing’s Strategic Director for Children’s Services, Robert South, notes that the aim is to secure “a sustainable and high-quality primary education offer for local children,” ensuring that resources are aligned with need and that schools remain financially viable in the long term.

The council acknowledges the difficulty of proposing changes to institutions embedded in neighbourhood life, but argues that action is necessary to protect educational standards and ensure best use of public funds.