Key Points:
- Hackney Council cabinet to vote on six primary school closures on Tuesday, 22 April
- Proposals affect St Dominic’s, St Mary’s, Oldhill, Sir Thomas Abney, Harrington Hill, and Holmleigh
- Decline of 2,400 pupils in Hackney’s primary schools since 2017; further drop of 1,796 expected by 2035
- Mergers proposed: Oldhill with Harrington Hill, Sir Thomas Abney with Holmleigh
- Special educational provision and language resource units to be relocated under new plans
- 62 formal objections cite disruption, emotional impact, and reduced faith school access
- Hackney promises support for affected staff and families if plans are approved
Hackney Council’s leadership is set to make a final decision next week on the closure of six primary schools, as part of a controversial plan prompted by falling pupil numbers. The cabinet will vote on Tuesday, 22 April, following months of protests, consultations and opposition from the community.
Why is Hackney Council considering closing these primary schools?
The council says the decision is being driven by a “significant” decline in enrolment across the borough. Cabinet documents show a drop of around 2,400 pupils in mainstream primary schools between 2017 and 2024. According to Greater London Authority projections, the figure is expected to fall by another 1,796 over the next decade.
Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, cabinet member for children and young people, said: “Despite the great efforts of schools and the council to mitigate the impact of the resourcing and other challenges caused by falling rolls, it has not been possible to avoid bringing forward proposals for school closures when it is evident that the continued quality of education is at significant risk.”
Which schools are affected by the closure and merger plans?
The proposals, if approved, would lead to the following changes:
- Closure of St Dominic’s Catholic Primary School
- Closure of St Mary’s Church of England Primary School
- Closure of Oldhill Community School, with pupils merged into Harrington Hill Primary School, which would expand to two forms of entry
- Closure of Sir Thomas Abney Primary School, with pupils moved to Holmleigh Primary School
- Oldhill’s special educational provision to be relocated to Harrington Hill
- Sir Thomas Abney’s language resource provision (LRP) to remain on its current site, operated by Holmleigh
These closures and mergers would mark the second round of shutdowns after the council previously closed and merged four other primaries in 2024.
What has been the public response to the proposed closures?
The council received 62 formal objections during the statutory 28-day notice period. A summary in council documents noted that many responses characterised the proposals as “financially driven, short-sighted, and fail[ing] to consider the educational, emotional, and practical impacts on students, staff, and families.”
Common concerns included:
- Disruption to established school communities
- Impact on SEND pupils, who depend on the stability of current support structures
- Reduced availability of faith-based education, particularly in the case of St Dominic’s
- Increased pressure on nearby schools and concerns about longer commute times
- Alleged lack of fairness and transparency, especially around the merging of Oldhill and Harrington Hill
How will the council support affected families and staff?
Hackney Council has pledged to provide “an extensive support offer” to families and staff from the affected schools if the closures go ahead. Details of the support programme will be announced following the cabinet meeting.
A spokesperson said: “If cabinet decides to proceed with the proposed changes, the council will offer an extensive support offer to families and staff from the affected schools in order to help them through the transition.”
What’s next for Hackney’s schools?
If the cabinet approves the plans on Tuesday, the closures and mergers will move ahead as outlined, with the transition process initiated shortly after. The plans are part of Hackney Council’s broader response to long-term demographic shifts impacting primary school viability across the borough.
Stakeholders now await the decision on 22 April, which could reshape the education landscape in Hackney for years to come.
