A campaign has been launched to save a historic Stoke Newington primary school from closure.
St Mary’s Primary, bordered by Stoke Newington Church St and Barn St, has been running for 471 years but, amidst a backdrop of falling pupil numbers across local schools, Hackney Council has earmarked it for closure in August next year and has just launched a consultation.
Hayley Lewis, a parent at the school, has launched a petition on Change.org to save it. She wrote: “Our school, with its 471-year lifeblood, stands as the longstanding iconic edifice in Hackney and serves more than an avenue of basic education. It’s our community pride, a living and breathing testament to our shared history and aspirations.
“It is crucial that Hackney Council revisits its decision and acknowledges the vital role our school plays within the local community. After all, Stoke Newington’s strength lies in its community bonding and in preserving its rich history.”
It’s one of four local schools earmarked for closure or merging. Sir Thomas Abney and Oldhill Primary could be merged and St Dominic’s Catholic School in Homerton could close completely.
Lower birth rates and the decision of lots of families to leave London due to the housing crisis, has had a huge impact on pupil numbers. The combined overspend on maintained, mainstream primary schools in Hackney in 2023/24 amounted to more than £4.3 million.
Hackney’s deputy mayor Cllr Anntoinette Bramble said falling rolls affects schools throughout the capital and has big increase on school finances and their ability to offer a quality education for all children.
She added: “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.”
St Mary’s is one of the UK’s oldest schools. A schoolhouse was first erected at the side of the Old St Mary’s Church in 1563, housing pupils of varying ages. It moved to the other end of Church St and finally settled on its current site in Barn Street in 1866 and became a primary school in 1945.
A stunning Shakespeare themed stained-glass window was erected at the school in 2013 to celebrate its 450th anniversary.
Click here for more information on the Council's consultation.
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