Public Consultation Opens on Northolt School Plans

Opinions sought on future of Viking and Downe Manor primaries

Viking Primary School and Downe Manor Primary School

October 6, 2026

Ealing Council has launched a six-week public consultation on the future organisation of Viking Primary School and Downe Manor Primary School, inviting parents, pupils, staff, governors and residents to share their views on how the two Northolt schools should be structured in the years ahead.

The consultation, which opened this Monday (5 October), asks local communities to respond to a range of options for the schools’ future. These include maintaining the current arrangements, reducing places in other ways, or adopting the council’s preferred option: closing Viking Primary School and merging it with Downe Manor from September 2027. Under this proposal, all children enrolled at Viking at the point of closure would automatically transfer to Downe Manor.

Residents can take part through the survey now available on the council’s Have your say Ealing website. Once the consultation closes, responses will be considered by Ealing’s cabinet before any statutory proposal is published.

The decision to consult follows a report to the cabinet member responsible for schools and education, outlining the pressures created by a sharp fall in primary pupil numbers across Ealing. Like many London boroughs, Ealing has seen a significant decline over the past decade. Because schools receive government funding based on the number of pupils they have, fewer children means less money — a challenge that can affect staffing, facilities and the ability to offer a full curriculum.

There has been a strongly negative reaction already from parents with children at Viking Primary School who demonstrated ahead of a key council meeting about the plans.

Opposition has centred on three main themes: the loss of a valued community school, unanswered questions about the council’s rationale, and fears that the merger would not deliver the benefits being claimed. Parents and members of the school community have written to the council questioning whether closure is necessary at all, arguing that Viking is “a thriving community school that has served generations of local families” and should not be treated as “simply a number in a school-capacity calculation.”

Parents have additionally questioned whether the proposed merger would genuinely improve educational or financial sustainability, noting that both schools are rated “Good” by Ofsted and that Viking is currently fuller than Downe Manor. Some have pointed out that Downe Manor’s financial pressures stem partly from its PFI contract, not from pupil numbers alone, and argue that this should not be used as a reason to close Viking.

Councillor Blerina Hashani, cabinet member for a fairer start, urged local families and residents to take part.

“We want all children in Ealing to have the best possible start in life. That means a good education, with access to a full curriculum, in a modern, high-quality learning environment,” she said. “To make sure our schools receive enough funding to offer this now and in the future, we need to carefully manage school places to match demand.

“I know people care deeply about their local schools, so I would encourage parents, pupils, staff, governors and residents of both school communities to share their views as part of the consultation process. The council hasn’t made any decisions on the future of Viking and Downe Manor, and I want to hear from as many people as possible before we do. Your views will inform our decision, so if these proposals impact you, please get involved and take part in the consultation.”

The consultation will run until mid-November. After reviewing all responses, the council will decide whether to move forward with a statutory proposal — a formal step required before any changes can be implemented.