London School Closures: 4 Hackney Primary Schools to Shut Over Pupil Drop

Hackney Council has confirmed the permanent closure of four primary schools following a significant decline in the number of school-aged children in the borough — a trend already responsible for four school closures last summer.

Despite strong opposition from parents and teachers, the council approved the closures in a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, citing the need to consolidate under-capacity schools to maintain educational quality.

The schools set to close at the end of the academic year are St Mary’s Church of England Primary and St Dominic’s Catholic Primary. Oldhill Community School will shut and merge with Harrington Hill Primary, while Sir Thomas Abney Primary will be combined with Holmleigh Primary.

Parents and campaigners criticized the decision, saying the council abandoned efforts to save the schools. However, councillors, including Education Cabinet Member Anntoinette Bramble, emphasized the closures are part of a wider trend affecting boroughs across London, not just Hackney.

Bramble explained the council is acting to prevent further decline in school quality, arguing that rising living costs, a shrinking child population, and families leaving the capital are all driving forces behind the drop in enrolment. She noted that doing nothing would only worsen the situation for schools already under pressure.

Hackney has lost nearly 2,400 primary school-aged children since 2017, and projections indicate the number could drop by another 2,600 by 2035. In October 2024, nearly 25% of reception places were unfilled, impacting funding, as schools rely on per-pupil allocations.

The financial strain has left many schools with dwindling reserves, prompting urgent intervention. The council will provide £30,000 in transitional support to each affected school.

Hackney currently has around 3,900 vacant pupil places — roughly equivalent to 130 empty classrooms — between reception and year six.

This situation is not unique to Hackney. Nearby Islington Council is also expected to approve the closure of two primary schools, Highbury Quadrant and St Jude and St Paul’s, later this week.

Experts and educators point to several contributing factors, including the effects of the pandemic, Brexit, housing affordability, and a long-term decline in birth rates. A report from Trust for London recently revealed that child populations in gentrified areas have dropped significantly, further amplifying concerns that parts of the capital could become increasingly "childless."