Primary schools in England close, merge and shrink as pupil numbers fall

The London borough of Lambeth plans to cut more than 4,000 primary school places over the next seven years. Photograph: Ben Birchall/PA

Primary schools are being closed, merged and shrunk as councils across England respond to falling numbers of pupils due to the falling birth rate as well as family upheaval triggered by rising costs, Brexit and Covid.

London boroughs are among the hardest hit, with thousands of school places being lost, but the closures and cuts extend to other cities and areas as they adjust to fewer children being born or moving into their catchment areas.