A primary school in East London, founded in 1563 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, is set to close its doors due to a sharp decline in student numbers.
St Mary's Church of England Primary School, nestled behind Church Street in Stoke Newington, has been part of the local community for over four centuries. Originally based in a pew of St Mary’s Church—now an arts venue—it moved to its current site in 1831, with parts of the original building still in use.
Once a bustling institution, the school began this year with just 70 pupils. Headteacher Breda McKelvey, who took on the role two years ago after over a decade as deputy head, said the closure felt inevitable.
"Our numbers have been shrinking for years," she told BBC London. "I knew I couldn’t manage another year with the budget. It’s a real loss for the community—businesses, the church, and families who valued the close-knit environment."
Staff members like Gloria Rose, who has worked at the school for 24 years, echoed the sentiment. "It's heart-breaking. We’ve always put children first with love and community at the heart of what we do."
Receptionist Jay Kennedy, whose grandchildren attended the school, described the atmosphere during the recent leavers’ assembly as emotional. "I’m devastated," she said. "It’s such a small, village-like school—it’s just awful to see it go."
As the school winds down, staff have been busy packing up supplies and distributing materials to other schools in the borough and beyond. Mrs. McKelvey said it’s important that everything is reused: "Pens, pencils, equipment—anything that can help another school is being shared."
Among the historic treasures uncovered during the process were inspection records from World War II and a punishment book from 1931 to 1971. It detailed minor infractions—mostly by boys—and punishments like strokes to the hand. A Roll of Service listing staff and pupils who served in World War I was also found, with names of the fallen marked in red.
The school previously faced closure in the 1880s but was saved by a donation in 1882—something Mrs. McKelvey reflected on as a poignant parallel to today.
A farewell party was recently held, welcoming back former students and families. Seventeen-year-old Caoimhe Adade-Marfo, a past pupil, said, "It was a really tight-knit place. I always hoped my children would come here one day."
Carrie Ferrigi, another former pupil whose whole family attended St Mary's, said the school symbolized a community spirit that has been fading. "Stoke Newington has changed. It’s not the same place I grew up in."
St Mary's is one of many schools affected by London’s declining pupil numbers. Since 2020, more than 40 primary schools in the city have either closed or merged. Several boroughs, including Hackney and Islington, face further closures or consolidations in the near future. Image: Google