Four more primary schools in Hackney could close as finances worsen due to falling pupil numbers.

At the end of the last school year, four primary schools in the borough were closed after more than one in five reception places went unfilled.

Hackney Council has said that while this move is expected to reduce the percentage of empty school places to 18% by next year, the proportion is projected to rise again by 2027.

Falling pupil rolls have been blamed on lower birth rates and families leaving the capital as a result of the housing crisis.

Hackney’s primary schools currently receive over £28.5 million less than they would if their classrooms were full, the council has said.

To improve this, plans will now be put forward to close four more primary schools in the borough.

St Mary’s Church of England Primary School in Stoke Newington, which is almost 500 years old, is among those earmarked for closure.

Under current plans, it would shut outright from August 31 next year, alongside St Dominic’s Catholic Primary School in Homerton.

Pupils at two Stamford Hill schools - Oldhill Primary School and Sir Thomas Abney Primary School – will also be subject to a merger with another primary school, or full closure.

If a merger is agreed, Sir Thomas Abney pupils would be offered a place at Holmleigh Primary School.

In this case, 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.

Oldhill Primary School would merge with Harrington Hill Primary School, with two classes in each year group at the latter’s current site.

Should the primary school close, the Oldhill children’s centre would continue to operate at the same site under the management of either Harrington Hill, another school or the council.

Justifying the plans, Hackney Council said that 64% of maintained, mainstream primary schools, or the federations they form part of, ended the 2023/24 financial year having overspent. The combined overspend totalled more than £4.3 million. 

In the past two years, the combined reserve funds held across all maintained, mainstream primary schools, or the federations they form part of, decreased by 64%, the council added.

Hackney’s deputy mayor Cllr Anntoinette Bramble said: “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.”

The council’s cabinet is expected to decide whether to consult on the proposed changes on September 30.

An initial round of consultation would then take place before the end of this year, before specific proposals are published at the start of Spring next year.

The council plans to make a final decision in April, ahead of the plans taking effect at the end of the school year.