Councillor Claims Decision Made to Shut William Hogarth School

Head offers parents reassurance that there is ‘no active proposal

The Chiswick primary school

July 18, 2026

The future of The William Hogarth School in Chiswick has been thrown into uncertainty after a Labour councillor claimed that its closure was discussed privately among Labour members ahead of Tuesday’s (14 July) Cabinet meeting.

Cllr Sue Sampson, who represents Isleworth ward, said she was told during internal Labour Party discussions that both Ivybridge Primary — in her constituency — and The William Hogarth School were earmarked for closure under Hounslow Council ’s Schools Organisational Plan. In a formal objection submitted to Council Leader Shantanu Rajawat immediately after the meeting, she accused the administration of presenting a “predetermined decision ” and failing to carry out genuine consultation.

“During Tuesday’s Cabinet political discussions, I expected that the points I raised would be considered and reflected in the briefing. They were not,” she wrote. “Instead, we were presented with a predetermined decision that both Ivybridge and Hogarth will be closing. This approach does not constitute genuine consultation and fails to address the substantive issues raised.”

No explicit denial of her account has been issued by either the local Labour Party or Hounslow Council. A council spokesperson has since said only that “there will be no schools’ reorganisation proposals implemented in the academic year 2026/27, ” adding that the authority will “use the time to move at pace and be ready to recommence discussions and actions in the autumn term 2027/28, with any decisions to be considered for September 2028. ”

Cllr Sampson ’s objection raises wider concerns about governance and transparency. She alleges that Cabinet members were not properly consulted and that decisions appeared to have been made before the meeting took place. She also questions why the council has not explored alternative strategies to address falling pupil numbers, such as reducing the size of larger schools rather than closing smaller ones.

Her earlier email to the council leader and to Cllr Madeeha Asim, the new portfolio holder for Children and Young Futures, highlights the financial pressures driving the reorganisation. She argues that closures are being considered “almost entirely by financial pressures rather than by any evidence relating to educational standards, pupil outcomes or the long-term interests of children. ”

The William Hogarth School, a primary school located on Duke Road in Chiswick, currently operates at around 70 per cent occupancy, according to headteacher Avril Stockley. It is understood that other schools within the borough have pupil rolls which are at less than 50% of capacity. The school was rated “Good ” with “Outstanding ” personal development by Ofsted in 2023.

In a letter to parents dated 16 July, Ms Stockley sought to reassure families that there are “no active proposals relating to school reorganisation ” and “no public consultation scheduled during the forthcoming academic year. ” She said the school ’s focus remains on providing “an excellent education for every child ” and that it will continue “business as usual ” in September.

The revelation has prompted an angry response from Chiswick’s Conservative councillors, who represent the Gunnersbury ward. In a joint statement, Cllrs Joanna Biddolph, Vickram Grewal and Ron Mushisho said they were “absolutely appalled by the abrupt, underhanded announcement that Hounslow’s Labour administration intends to close the ‘Good’ rated William Hogarth School.”

They said the way the matter was handled was “an insult to our community,” claiming that the school and local families “did not find out through official channels, but by complete accident when Cllr Samia Chaudhary (Cabinet Member for Education at the time) casually let it slip while out canvassing.”

The councillors added that the decision “exposed deep divisions and chaos within the Labour Cabinet itself, with senior members like Cllr Sue Sampson kept entirely in the dark.” They demanded to know “exactly when this decision was actually made, and why key stakeholders — including the school’s leadership, governors, and parents — were deliberately excluded from what should have been a transparent process.”

Their statement warned that if the plan goes ahead, “the wider impact on the community will be acute, with other local schools having to absorb displaced pupils, teacher jobs put at risk, and already stretched budgets strained even further.” They also highlighted transport and safety concerns for families, noting that most William Hogarth pupils live locally and forcing them to travel elsewhere “creates a logistical nightmare.”

A spokesperson for the Labour group in Hounslow said, “There will be no schools’ reorganisation proposals implemented in the academic year 2026/27 and the Cabinet discussion was not to make a decision on school closures. While there is a national problem with falling school rolls, this council is moving at pace to find practical solutions. Discussions and actions will take place in the Autumn term 2027/28 with any decisions to be considered for September 2028. This administration remains committed to working with all our schools, parents, and unions to ensure Hounslow continues to be one of the highest performing education systems in the country and one that is fit for the future.”

The borough is understood to have more children than there are school places but a substantial number attend school outside the local authority area including in Richmond upon Thames and Hammersmith & Fulham. '

A report published by Hounslow Council following last year's consultation on the school reorganisation plan showed that the majority of the primary place surplus was in the west of the borough, particularly Heston and Cranford.

The report showed that most of the spare capacity in the borough was in primary schools with nearly 3,000 places not taken up.

Source: Hounslow Council

Reponses to the council's consultation showed that there was strong support (74%) for repurposing surplus space for educational or community uses (SEND, wraparound care). Clear opposition (82%) was expressed to using school land for housing.

The wider picture points to mounting pressure across London. A report published by London Councils earlier this year warned that falling pupil numbers could cut £45 million from school budgets over the next four years, with inner-London boroughs facing the sharpest declines. Hounslow ’s own projections show a potential £19 million deficit by 2029, and the council plans to launch a consultation in September on school reorganisation, which may include closures and job losses.

The William Hogarth School has faced closure before. Its predecessor, Hogarth School, was shut down in 2001 after a damning scrutiny report cited a combination of leadership failures, staff turnover, and community tensions. The site was later reopened as The William Hogarth School, which has since flourished.

For now, the council insists that no closures will take place before 2028, but the absence of a clear denial of Cllr Sampson ’s claims has left parents and staff anxious about what lies ahead.