Proposed changes to Hackney primary schools

Hackney Council is considering consulting on closures or mergers that would impact up to six primary schools in the borough. This is because the significant fall in pupil numbers has caused the financial position of some of the borough’s schools to worsen to the point that it is no longer possible for the Council to maintain them. 

As has been widely reported, in recent years the majority of London boroughs, including Hackney, have been experiencing a significant fall in pupil numbers. The reasons behind this are thought to include lower birth rates, the cap on housing benefits, and families leaving London (as a result of the housing crisis, the cost of living, Brexit, and the pandemic). 

In May 2024 there were 577 unfilled reception places in Hackney (21%), and 4,808 unfilled places across all year groups (23%).

The permanent closure of four primary schools in Hackney on 31 August 2024, together with reductions to the planned admission numbers to other schools across the borough, are expected to reduce the percentage of empty school places to 18% by 2025/2026. However, the most recent data shows that many Hackney schools are still far from seeing healthy, sustainable pupil numbers. Projections from the Greater London Authority show that without continued intervention this surplus would rise again to 22% by 2027 and continue at this high level into the early 2030s. 

Schools receive money from central government based on the number of pupils. This means that schools with a high number of unfilled places have less money for staff, resources, equipment, extracurricular activities, to pay bills and to carry out maintenance work. 

Hackney’s primary schools currently receive over £28.5m less funding compared to what they would be entitled to if their classrooms were full. 

School leaders, the Council and its partners have been doing everything they can to manage the situation, including reducing the admission number to a half form of entry, combining age groups, undertaking staff restructures and trying to supplement the schools’ budgets. But this hasn’t solved the problem as rolls and funding continue to fall.

64% of maintained, mainstream, primary schools, or the federations they form part of, ended the 2023/24 financial year having overspent. The combined overspend totals more than £4.3m. 

In the last two years, the combined reserve funds held across all maintained, mainstream primary schools, or the federations they form part of decreased by 64% (from £9.1m in April 2022 to £3.2m in April 2024).

While our schools are recognised for their high performance and excellent results, they face significant challenges due to the reduced government funding caused by the falling rolls. Many schools have already told us that this is affecting their ability to fully support their pupils, especially those with the greatest needs.

We know that our schools have very close ties to the local area and communities, sometimes over many generations. This makes these proposals very difficult, and not something we would choose if we felt there was a better option. 

Like many other local authorities, Hackney Council is facing enormous financial challenges, and needs to make substantial savings to be able to continue to protect the borough’s most vulnerable residents. The Council cannot afford to financially support schools that are not sustainable, and must continue to make difficult decisions to make sure our schools are fit for the future, and to protect the high quality education that Hackney is known for.  

The proposals to be considered are:

• The closure of St Mary’s Church of England Primary School;
• The closure of St Dominic’s Catholic Primary School;
• Two options of organisational changes for Sir Thomas Abney Primary School:

1. A merger with nearby Holmleigh Primary School. In this case Sir Thomas Abney Primary School would close,  and its pupils would be offered a place at Holmleigh Primary School. Holmleigh would expand from one to two classes per year group and would relocate to the current site of Sir Thomas Abney School, as this site can fit all the children from both schools

or

1. Closure of Sir Thomas Abney Primary School.

• Two options of organisational changes for Oldhill Community School:

1. A merger with nearby Harrington Hill Primary School. In this case Oldhill Community School would close, and its pupils would be offered a place at Harrington Hill Primary School. Harrington Hill would expand from one to two classes per year group and would operate on the current site of Harrington Hill Primary School

or 

1. Closure of Oldhill Community School.

There is a children’s centre on the same site as Oldhill Community School. Should Oldhill School close, the children's centre would continue to operate on the same site, under the management of Harrington Hill, another school or the Council.

If agreed, the proposed changes will take effect on 31 August 2025.

What is a merger?

A merger (also known as ‘amalgamation’) brings together two or more schools to form one school - on one site and under a single leadership. 

Merging schools that have seen a large fall in pupil numbers can bring significant benefits, including:

• Establishing a stronger, more durable single school, that is better equipped to respond to the needs of children and staff and to continue to improve
• More specialist expertise from a wider teaching team
• Stronger finances
• More resources to provide extended services to local families, such as breakfast and afterschool clubs

What will happen next

The Council’s Cabinet will meet on 30 September to decide whether to consult on these proposals. If the decision is to proceed, we will launch a consultation by mid-October to gather views on the proposals. No final decision will be made until April 2025. 

We will work together with school leaders, and the Dioceses in the case of faith schools, to support children, families, staff and communities through the next steps. We will do all we can to protect the education and wellbeing of all those affected.

Proposed timeline

More details about the proposals can be found in the Cabinet report, published on 20 September on the Hackney Council website.

We are proud of our children and young people and their families, schools and community partners. Hackney schools are some of the best in the country, and offer a range of extra-curricular activities to support families in and outside of school.

The problem of falling rolls affects not just Hackney, but all of London, with a massive impact on schools’ finances, and, as a result, on their ability to continue to offer a quality education for all children. 

It is incredibly difficult to have to consider once again potential closures or mergers of some of the schools most impacted by the falling rolls, despite their great performance. But it is our role as a Council to do everything we can to make sure our schools are fit for the future, and to protect the high quality education for which Hackney is known. 

I want to thank all our schools and our partners for their often challenging work, and for their dedication and support that they continue to show to their children and communities despite the enormous pressures they face. We know that only by working together can we find the best long term solutions that will allow us to build a stronger family of schools that can respond to some of the biggest challenges of our times.

Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, Deputy Mayor of Hackney and Cabinet Member for Education, Young People and Children’s Social Care