Bid made to re-open Colvestone School for public benefit

On 20th January 2025 a consortium of social enterprises lodged a bid with Hackney Council to re-open the former Colvestone Primary School as a community educational, cultural and social hub. The consortium has set out its proposals in an "Expression of Interest".

The Council had resolved in December 2023 that, due to falling pupil numbers and loss of education subsidies, it would close the school. Hackney promised to consult on future uses but the community presently remains in the dark about its current plans. The school finally closed in August 2024. 

An application nominating the school buildings and land as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) was made in September 2024 by members if the local community “to ensure that future uses of the Colvestone Primary School buildings and land shall continue to serve the social interest and wellbeing of the local community as it has done in the past.” Hackney Council accepted the nomination and registered it as an ACV on 19 December 2024  It concluded that “it is realistic to think that there will be a time within the next five years when the main use of the building and land could further the social wellbeing or social interest of the local community ”. 

The consortium includes:

- two charitable museums holding national collections : the Pollocks Toy Museum and the Bakelite Design Trust 

- two arts organisations which manage affordable studios for artists and other creative businesses – V22 and the Bomb Factory Arts Foundation 

- Julian Joseph OBE, Dalston resident Floating Points and other established musicians offer support for a Music Hub where young people can learn, record and perform their music; 

 - the Eastern Curve Garden offers support for managing the open space and rooftop garden and 

-  a number of local independent businesses which specialise in teaching young people furniture making, clothes design and sewing, re-cycling materials, ceramics and meditation 

Opportunities remain open for other proposals including use of the school kitchen facilities eg for teaching nutrition and cooking affordable meals and use of the former nursery school eg for a local shoppers creche 

Bill Parry-Davies who is co-ordinating the consortium’s bid, said “All across London schools are closing as a result of London becoming unaffordable for young families. Local Councils are being starved of government funds and so there is a real risk that these fine public buildings will be permanently lost to our communities. Viable alternative uses which confer community benefit, like the Colvestone School bid, are possible and these would preserve and enhance the rich architectural, educational and social heritage which these former schools embody.” 

Julian Joseph of the Music Hub said “ Often before anything community oriented can be achieved with a building, such as the now former Colvestone School, it’s possibilities are routinely removed before its artistic potential can even start to be realised. Hackney is in a great position to evolve this former school building into a thriving musical facility and absolutely fulfill a great necessity.”

Floating Points said "Nurturing this kind of endeavour would bring about vital and exciting opportunities to my fellow Dalstonites. For education and cultural nourishment within the community I wholehearteldy support this application and have myself benefitted from this kind of programme in my youth"

Eran Zucker of V22 said “Colvestone School offers a unique opportunity to create a vibrant hub for education, creativity, and community collaboration. At V22, we are committed to preserving spaces where artists, makers, and local residents can come together to share skills, create, and innovate. Being part of this project reflects our deep belief in sustainable and inclusive spaces that enrich the cultural and social life of Hackney." 

Background facts 

Built in 1862 in the Gothic style, Colvestone Primary School was one of the six purpose built Birkbeck Schools established by William Ellis. The schools were named for George Birkbeck, founder of Birkbeck University of London and a pioneer in education. The school became publicly owned in 1906 when it was transferred to the London County Council and was thereafter run as a community primary school by the Inner London Education Authority and, since 1990, by Hackney Council. 

Designed by Thomas Knightley, the school, and its forecourt railings, were listed on the National Heritage List as Grade 2 in 1975. It was recognised in the local St Mark’s Conservation Area appraisal as one of the “highest quality buildings” in the area and an “exceptional public building”. 

The Council report of December 2023 outlining its school closure plans stated “The Council has been reviewing options for alternative uses. This is very challenging work in the current economic climate, because it is very difficult to find financially sustainable uses…we will do our best to steer these sites into locally relevant and valuable uses mindful of the extreme financial pressure the Council is under and the need to minimise the impact on our finances. We will take into account the views of the community, the needs of the local neighbourhood, and the need for financial sustainability.” 

Despite a vigorous and strongly argued local campaign by Save Colvestone School, Hackney finally closed the school, and a number of other primary schools, in August 2024 due to falling pupil numbers. There is an overall 20% vacancy in Hackney’s schools and further closures are anticipated.

Colvestone Primary School is now an Asset of Community Value

On 19 December Hackney Council accepted the local community's nomination and has registered Colvestone School as an Asset of Community Value (ACV).  Although the school itself was official closed last August, the ACV decision recognises that the building and land are "of community value" and that future uses could serve "the social well being or social interest of the local community" in the forseeable future. 

Hackney has so far declared 4 of its 58 community primary schools, including Colvestone Primary School, redundant in December 2023 because of falling numbers of children enrolling. Hackney said it would lose £30million of government pupil subsidy overall in 2022/23 due to 20% unfilled school places. Housing costs driving families out of London was one factor cited.( For years Hackney has consistently failed to insist that developers meet its targets to build new affordable family housing in Dalston. Ed.) 

Designed by architect Thomas Knightly, and built in 1862, Colvestone School was one of six purpose built Birkbeck schools. Heritage England listed the school, and its forecourt railings, as Grade II in 1977 and it was acknowledged as being of the "highest quality" and an "exceptional public building" in the appraisal of Dalston's St. Mark's Conservation Area in 2008. 

Replying to Save Colvestone School campaign about future uses of the school the Council stated that "We will seek to preserve the buildings which have a rich history and heritage where possible...it is very difficult to find financially sustainable uses...We will take into account the views of the local community and the needs of the neighbourhood..."

The community's nomination to make the school an Asset of Community Value identified a number of  educational and other uses for the school which are financially sustainable, are needed locally, and which would be of community benefit (Of which more soon. Ed.)

Hackney is presently in breach of an Information Commissioner's order to explain why it is failing to disclose the original  title deeds of the school which, a local resident believes, may contain a charitable covenant restricting any change from educational or charitable uses. In any event, if Hackney decides to sell the school, it could need government approval and, now it has ACV status, the community would have 6 months to make a bid to acquire it (Although, as a public building, we already own it! Ed.)