Vacant Hackney primary school set to re-open as specialist facility for children and young people with SEND
The former Baden Powell Primary School would be repurposed to offer 48 new special school places
A primary school that closed due to falling pupil numbers in Hackney could reopen as specialist provision, as part of the Council’s ambitious plan to create additional places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in the borough.
The former Baden Powell Primary School in Clapton would be repurposed to offer 48 new special school places for children and young people with SEND, providing tailored support close to home, as part of an expansion of Ickburgh School. The school’s main site on Kenworthy Road would remain unchanged.
If agreed, the site will undergo significant refurbishment and adaptation to meet the needs of the new pupils. This would include:
- refurbished classroom spaces
- shared breakout and group areas
- specialist rooms for art and food technology
- new and improved staff and therapy spaces
- new finishes and fittings throughout the building
Ickburgh School is one of three maintained special schools in Hackney, dedicated to supporting children and young people with SEND whose needs cannot be met within a mainstream setting. The proposed expansion aims to provide high-quality specialist education, allowing children to stay connected to their local support networks and reducing the need for long-distance travel.
The initiative would also help decrease the Council’s reliance on more expensive out-of-borough or independent school placements and create local employment opportunities. Funding for the refurbishment would come from the SEN Special Provision Capital Fund.
“We know that we can only support every child and young person with additional needs by working together and investing our resources carefully.
“Repurposing the site of the Baden Powell Primary School into specialist provision would allow us to offer more tailored support for our children in greatest need closer to their home, and continue to benefit our community for years to come.”
Cllr Anya Sizer, Deputy cabinet member for families, early years and SEND
“Since the start of the primary school closures in 2024, we have been committed to repurposing all of the buildings in the Council’s control, to ensure they stay in public ownership and help address the challenges the borough faces, rather than being sold off or sitting empty.
“By investing into this now vacant site, we are continuing to meet our commitment to create over 300 high quality places for the use of our children with SEND, and give new life to the building.”
Caroline Woodley, Mayor of Hackney
Local context
This proposal is part of the Council’s wider strategy to repurpose school sites to address community needs, particularly in response to a significant increase locally in the number of children and young people with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). This trend is observed across London and is predicted to continue.
One in five children and young people now have an Education, Health and Care Plan or receive SEN Support, a figure higher than the London and national averages reported in January 2025.
SEND and inclusion is a top priority in the draft Education Strategic Plan, with a key goal of increasing specialist provision to meet diverse needs.
The new draft Hackney SEND and Inclusion Strategy, co-produced with the community, also focuses on creating inclusive environments and providing timely support. This builds on efforts since 2022 to deliver 300 additional specialist places by 2026, not just in mainstream education, but also in local special schools.
Next steps
The statutory notice for the proposal will be published on 6 November and available for feedback until December 3rd. The Council is expected to make a decision on the plans before the end of the year. If approved, refurbishment work is anticipated to begin in mid-2026, with the goal of accommodating pupils as early as September 2027.