In response to falling enrolment across the borough, Hackney Council has made an initial proposal to merge Colvestone Primary School with Princess May Primary School at the Princess May site from September 2024, which means the closure of Colvestone school.

Colvestone Primary School is a friendly, close-knit, one-form entry community school with a strong academic record and close ties to Ridley Road Market and the surrounding community. Colvestone has been part of the Dalston community for more than 170 years. It is a beautiful Grade 2 listed building, and the only surviving example of the original Birkbeck school buildings, part of a mid-19th century radical education movement. Colvestone is the only non-denominational school in Dalston, and with the proposed closure of nearby De Beauvoir school, current and future parents in this area have few nearby options that are not either religious schools, academies or free schools.

Our small school is popular with families of children with special needs as it gives them the opportunity to learn in an environment which is calmer and less overwhelming. Colvestone has 7% of pupils with an Education, Health and Care plan (national average is 4%) plus another 12% of pupils who need additional support. So 1 in 5 of the pupils have additional challenges of some kind. This proposal will adversely affect these vulnerable children as they will find it particularly difficult to cope with a transition to a new school.

Colvestone has been in partnership with Blossom Federation (who manage three other schools in the borough) since September 2022. They were selected by Hackney Education and the governing body in June last year to give the best support to Colvestone. During that process, the then Director of Education at Hackney reassured parents that there were no plans to close the school. The governing body and parents are extremely disappointed that the new partnership with Blossom Federation has not been given an opportunity to show its impact.

Colvestone has benefitted from significant capital investment by Hackney Council over the last 12-18 months with significant external repairs to the stonework and leadwork on the roof and careful restoration of the Grade 2 listed railings in front of the school. Without the scaffolding, the school building looks very attractive. Blossom Federation has attracted further Council funding to upgrade facilities and redecorate inside the school as well.

The closure of Colvestone would have a negative impact on this community and leave an empty building in the heart of the local area. 

The Dalston Area Plan shows that more residential properties are planned for the area which will lead to an increase in demand for more school places in a few years time. Local residents deserve to have a school they can easily walk to, one that has a strong academic record, that offers the closeness and individual attention of a one-form entry environment, and that is not tied to any particular religion. 

We, the undersigned, are asking the Hackney Council Cabinet to remove Colvestone from the potential closure list, thereby ensuring security and stability for staff, pupils and parents.