Education

Hackney’s former primary school to reopen as specialist SEND school amid borough’s demographic shift

Thursday, 6 November 2025 5:05AM UTC

Baden Powell Primary School in Clapton, Hackney, set to reopen in 2027 as a dedicated specialist school for children with special educational needs, addressing growing demand and reducing reliance on out-of-borough placements.

Baden Powell Primary School in Clapton, Hackney, which closed in 2024 due to declining pupil numbers, is set to reopen as a specialist school providing dedicated places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The local council plans to expand Ickburgh School by offering 48 new places at the refurbished Baden Powell site. This redevelopment aims to address the growing demand for local SEND provision and reduce reliance on expensive out-of-borough placements.

The refurbishment will transform the former primary school’s facilities, including updated classrooms, specialist art and food technology rooms, and designated therapy spaces tailored to the needs of SEND pupils. These enhancements seek to offer a supportive, resource-rich environment, enabling children with additional needs to access education closer to their homes. The main Ickburgh School site on Kenworthy Road will continue to operate independently without changes. Hackney Council anticipates starting refurbishment work by mid-2026, with pupils due to enrol from September 2027, pending a final decision expected before the end of this year following a statutory consultation period.

This reimagining of the Baden Powell site follows broader changes in Hackney’s educational landscape, where several primary schools have closed due to a sustained decrease in the number of school-aged children. In September 2024, Baden Powell was among four primary schools, including De Beauvoir, Randal Cremer, and Colvestone Primary Schools, that closed as part of the council’s strategy to manage financial pressures linked to falling enrolments. The closures were carefully managed with support offered for affected pupils, staff, and families to ease transitions.

The council has been transparent about these changes, launching statutory notices and consultations inviting community feedback on proposals to close or merge several schools. This approach underscores a commitment to stakeholder engagement during significant educational restructuring. The special school expansion at Baden Powell is also part of this ongoing effort to better meet the borough’s educational needs by shifting resources and facilities to benefit children requiring specialist support.

Overall, Hackney Council’s plan to repurpose Baden Powell Primary as a specialist SEND school represents a strategic investment in inclusive education designed to provide more localised, specialised support for children with additional needs, addressing both demographic changes and financial sustainability challenges in the borough’s education sector.

📌 Reference Map:

^[1] (Evening Standard) - Paragraph 1, Paragraph 2
^[2] (Hackney Council News) - Paragraph 1, Paragraph 2
^[3] (Hackney Council News) - Paragraph 3
^[4] (Hackney Council News) - Paragraph 3
^[5] (Hackney Education) - Paragraph 3
^[6] (Hackney Education) - Paragraph 3

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/hackney-primary-school-pupil-numbers-send-b1256681.html - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://news.hackney.gov.uk/news/vacant-hackney-primary-school-set-to-re-open-as-specialist-facility-for-children-and-young-people-with-send - Hackney Council plans to repurpose the former Baden Powell Primary School in Clapton into a specialist facility offering 48 new special school places for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The refurbishment will include classrooms, specialist art and food technology rooms, therapy spaces, and new furnishings. The main site of Ickburgh School on Kenworthy Road will remain unchanged. The council aims to reduce reliance on costly out-of-borough placements and provide local support. A decision is expected by the end of the year, with refurbishments starting mid-2026 and pupils welcomed from September 2027.
https://news.hackney.gov.uk/news/four-primary-schools-in-hackney-will-close-next-september-due-to-the-ongoing-decrease-in-the-number-of-school-aged-children - Hackney Council has announced the closure of four primary schools in September 2024 due to a significant decrease in pupil numbers. The affected schools are De Beauvoir Primary School, Randal Cremer Primary School, Colvestone Primary School, and Baden Powell Primary School. The closures are part of a broader strategy to address financial challenges faced by schools with declining enrolment. The council is working with the affected schools to provide support for staff, pupils, and families during the transition.
https://news.hackney.gov.uk/news/statutory-notice-period-begins-on-the-proposals-to-close-or-merge-six-schools-in-hackney - Hackney Council has initiated a four-week statutory notice period for proposals to close or merge six primary schools in the borough, including Baden Powell Primary School. The council is seeking feedback from the public on these proposals, which are in response to a significant decline in pupil numbers. The statutory notice period runs from 6 October to 3 November 2023, with a decision expected by the end of the year.
https://education.hackney.gov.uk/school-closures - Hackney Education provides information on school closures and other settings in the borough. The page lists schools that have informed the council of their closure, including Baden Powell Primary School, which closed on 31 August 2024. The page also provides contact details for inquiries and further information.
https://education.hackney.gov.uk/content/school-closures-mergers-2023 - Hackney Education outlines the decision process for school closures and mergers in September 2024. The page details the schools affected, including Baden Powell Primary School, which is set to merge with Nightingale Primary School. The page also provides information on the consultation process and next steps.
https://www.ickburgh.hackney.sch.uk/web/term_dates_2025-2026/712106 - Ickburgh School provides term dates for the 2025-2026 academic year. The page includes dates for inset days, pupil return, half-term breaks, and end of term. The term dates are relevant for planning and scheduling purposes for the upcoming academic year.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative is recent, with the latest publication on 5 November 2025. The earliest known publication date of substantially similar content is 5 November 2025. The narrative is based on a press release from Hackney Council, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. No earlier versions show different information. The article includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. ([news.hackney.gov.uk](https://news.hackney.gov.uk/news/vacant-hackney-primary-school-set-to-re-open-as-specialist-facility-for-children-and-young-people-with-send?utm_source=openai))

Quotes check

Score: 9

Notes: The quotes from Cllr Anya Sizer and Caroline Woodley appear in the Hackney Council press release dated 5 November 2025. No identical quotes appear in earlier material. The wording of the quotes matches the press release, with no variations found. No online matches were found for these quotes in earlier publications. This suggests potentially original or exclusive content. ([news.hackney.gov.uk](https://news.hackney.gov.uk/news/vacant-hackney-primary-school-set-to-re-open-as-specialist-facility-for-children-and-young-people-with-send?utm_source=openai))

Source reliability

Score: 10

Notes: The narrative originates from a reputable organisation, Hackney Council, which is a strength. The press release is accessible on the official Hackney Council News website. ([news.hackney.gov.uk](https://news.hackney.gov.uk/news/vacant-hackney-primary-school-set-to-re-open-as-specialist-facility-for-children-and-young-people-with-send?utm_source=openai))

Plausability check

Score: 9

Notes: The narrative makes plausible claims about the repurposing of Baden Powell Primary School into a specialist SEND facility. These claims are covered elsewhere, including in the Evening Standard article dated 5 November 2025. ([standard.co.uk](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/hackney-primary-school-pupil-numbers-send-b1256681.html?utm_source=openai)) The report includes specific factual anchors, such as names, institutions, and dates. The language and tone are consistent with official communications from Hackney Council. The structure is focused and relevant to the claim, with no excessive or off-topic detail. The tone is formal and appropriate for a council press release.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary: The narrative is recent, based on a press release from Hackney Council, and includes original quotes. The source is reliable, and the claims are plausible and well-supported. No significant issues were identified.

Hackney
SEND
School Reopening