Stoke Newington school dating back to 1500s to close

BBC News

18-07-2025

A London primary school which was established in 1563 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I is closing due to falling pupil numbers. Tucked away behind Church Street in Stoke Newington, behind the bustling cafes and boutique clothing stores, St Mary's CofE Primary School has occupied the street in some shape or form since the 16th Century. One of the oldest schools in London, it started out life as a pew in St Mary's Church - now an arts venue called Old Church - which was rebuilt by landowner William Patten, who added a School House in the western end of the church.The school opened its current location in 1831 with areas of the old part of the building still in use.
Head teacher Breda McKelvey took over as head two years ago, having served as deputy head at the Hackney school since 2010. In that time, she says she's seen many different changes, from the staff, to the curriculum and the pupils, but the school has kept the same ethos, which she says is about "being the best we can be".At the start of the year, she received the news her school was earmarked for closure. She told BBC London her initial reaction was sadness, and then "thinking what can we do about it, but our numbers have been shrinking for a few years now."We started the year on about 70 pupils - deep down I knew I couldn't manage another year with the budgets and paying the wages - so for me it was inevitable." She added: "I think it's a loss for the local community, to local businesses - we bring trade - but also to the church, to the people who have lived here all their lives and attended the school and the local families who do want a church school or a small school."A lot of parents want that tight-knit community."
'It's heart-breaking'
Gloria Rose, who has worked at the north-east London school for 24 years, says she's seen many changes.At first, there were lots of "challenging behaviours" but she says this has improved over the years, and "we like to put the children first with love and community".Jay Kennedy has been the receptionist for just over 20 years.She's had four grandchildren attend the school, with her youngest in year 6 and about to leave.We spoke to Ms Kennedy as the pupils were doing their leavers' assembly. "It's a bit of an emotional day today because they're doing their end of primary school life today," she says."I'm absolutely devastated, I understand the reasons why it's closing but it's just awful. "It's such a small village school, it's heart-breaking." In her time at the school, she's seen many pupils come and go who remember her. "I'll have someone come in and say, 'Miss can you sign my passport?' I won't know necessarily who they are and it'll be someone from 15 years ago."
As we walked around the school we could see boxes piled high with textbooks and teaching materials. Mrs McKelvey is working with three schools in the borough and another in Haringey to pass on the resources. "This is what's left, schools are taking everything. We've got pens, pencils, any equipment that will help other schools. "It's nice to see everything repurposed and used."
Packing up the school has taken months, especially given its rich history. The team have been pouring through the archive, which includes references to the Domesday Book. For former pupils, one of the most significant finds may be the punishment book, which dates from 1931 to 1971."It's all for persistent lying, disobedience, not following the school values, using a catapult, deliberately spoiling test papers and interestingly enough it was always boys, you rarely see a girl in there," Mrs McKelvey says. When I asked what the punishments were, I was told: "Mostly a stroke to the hand, just the one stroke."Every now and then you see three and four strokes - that was for deliberate disobedience."
There are also school inspection records which detail World War Two experiences.On 26 June 1944 one stated: "The school was visited after a night of continuous alert and at 05:00 there was a severe incident two streets away."A large number of children were there... prayers were said and the chief inspector saw the children in four groups."The response the children gave was remarkable considering the conditions."
'I hoped my children would come here'
Other records found in the school show that it came close to closure back in the 1880s but was saved in 1882 thanks to a financial contribution. "It's quite pertinent, given what's going on now," Mrs McKelvey says."It's lovely to see the history and know it's always been for the community and the deprived community as well."With just 21 children now left at the school, on Tuesday St Mary's held a party where they invited former pupils and their parents back.The playground was packed with people enjoying food, music and entertainment.Seventeen-year-old Caoimhe Adade-Marfo, a former pupil, describes it as "really fun, a really tight-knit community, all the pupils knew each other, it was really nice here."I feel really sad about it. I always had dreams of my children coming here or me showing them this is where I went to school."
Carrie Ferrigi is one of many members of the same family who attended the school - all her brothers and sisters and their children were pupils at St Mary's."Everyone was welcoming and warm, no matter how bad your day was and you'd see friends, not just teachers," she says.Her son was one of the last to leave, moving to another school two weeks ago. She is not sure how much longer she will stay in Stoke Newington. "I was born and bred here but it's changing - it's not the community I grew up with."Our neighbours don't say hello any more. It's been my home for 45 years but it's different, completely different."
Since April BBC London has contacted every London council to ask how many schools are being closed or merged. Hackney, Islington, Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, Southwark, Lambeth and Tower Hamlets will see closures or amalgamations. At least 14 primary schools will be affected.London Councils, the body that represents all of London's local authorities, said there had been more than 40 closures or mergers of primary schools across London since 2020, due to falling school numbers.