Key Points:
- Hackney Council has agreed to close four primary schools due to a significant drop in pupil numbers.
- St Mary’s Church of England Primary and St Dominic’s Catholic Primary will shut at the end of this school year.
- Oldhill Community School will close and merge with Harrington Hill Primary School.
- Sir Thomas Abney Primary School will close and merge with Holmleigh Primary School.
- The decision follows a fierce campaign by parents and teachers to keep the schools open.
- Hackney Council cited the need to “safeguard the quality of education” as a reason for the closures.
- Four other schools had already closed in Hackney in summer 2024.
- The closures were confirmed in a brief but heated cabinet meeting.
Four Hackney primary schools to permanently close after council decision. Hackney Council has confirmed the permanent closure of four primary schools in the borough following a significant fall in pupil numbers, despite strong opposition from parents and teachers.
At a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, councillors agreed to close St Mary’s Church of England Primary School and St Dominic’s Catholic Primary School at the end of the current academic year. Meanwhile, Oldhill Community School will close and merge with Harrington Hill Primary School, and Sir Thomas Abney Primary School will close and merge with Holmleigh Primary School.
The closures come just months after four other primary schools were shut across Hackney last summer, highlighting a growing crisis linked to a declining school-aged population.
Why are Hackney schools closing?
Council leaders pointed to an “ongoing significant fall” in the number of school-aged children across Hackney as the primary reason for the closures. This demographic shift, they argue, has left many schools operating at half-capacity, making it increasingly difficult to maintain educational standards and financial sustainability.
In the cabinet meeting, Hackney councillors said the closures were necessary “to safeguard the quality of education” for children in the borough, ensuring remaining schools can continue to offer high standards of teaching and support.
Which Hackney primary schools are affected?
The schools affected are:
- St Mary’s Church of England Primary School – to close at the end of this school year.
- St Dominic’s Catholic Primary School – also to close at the end of the year.
- Oldhill Community School – to close and merge with Harrington Hill Primary School.
- Sir Thomas Abney Primary School – to close and merge with Holmleigh Primary School.
The mergers are intended to consolidate resources and support pupils in a more stable learning environment, according to the council.
How have parents and teachers responded?
Parents and teachers campaigned vigorously to save the schools, arguing that closures would disrupt children’s education and tear apart close-knit school communities. Campaigners accused the council of ignoring their concerns, saying the authority had effectively “pulled the plug” on their efforts.
Despite these campaigns, the council pressed ahead, emphasising that the closures were the most responsible decision in light of declining enrolment figures.
What happens next for affected pupils?
The council has pledged to support all pupils, families, and staff during the transition. Pupils currently enrolled in the closing schools will be offered places at neighbouring schools, with efforts made to keep children and siblings together where possible.
Plans are also being put in place to ensure smooth integration for students transferring into the merged schools, including familiarisation days and support programmes.
What is the wider context of school closures in Hackney?
The latest closures follow a similar set of school shutdowns in Hackney in summer 2024, where four primary schools were closed under similar circumstances.
The borough’s falling birth rate, changes in family housing patterns, and the broader challenges facing inner London communities are believed to be driving the trend.
Hackney Council has suggested that, while difficult, these measures are essential to maintain a viable and high-quality education system within the borough.
