A vacant Hackney primary school-Baden Powell-looks set to reopen as a specialist facility for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The council has published plans to convert the site into an expanded campus of Ickburgh School, creating places for 48 pupils and reducing reliance on out-of-borough SEND placements.
Quick summary
The former Baden Powell Primary (closed August 2024) would be refurbished to provide specialist teaching and therapy spaces, including art and food-technology rooms, with an anticipated opening in September 2027 if plans are approved. Residents can respond to the council’s statutory notice – responses are invited until 3 December.
Why these matters
Hackney has a higher-than-average proportion of children with EHCPs and SEND support: more than 1 in 5 children in the borough are recorded as receiving such support, and the borough ranked 23rd in England for EHCP numbers as of January 2025. Converting empty school sites into high-quality local SEND provision tackles two pressing needs at once – local school places and better, borough-based specialist provision.
What the scheme would deliver
- 48 specialist places as part of an enlarged Ickburgh School campus.
- Extensive refurbishment to create specialist rooms (art, food technology), improved staff facilities and therapy spaces tailored to SEND pupils’ needs.
- Local benefits including fewer placements in costly independent or out-of-borough schools, and new jobs linked to the school’s operation.
Community and political response
Local councillors and community groups have broadly welcomed the intention to keep the historic site in public use. Some ward councillors welcomed the move as meeting national calls to repurpose closed school sites creatively to address the SEND capacity crisis. The council is also considering community proposals for other closed Grade-II listed school buildings in the borough.
The next steps
The council published a statutory notice on 6 November; residents have until 3 December to submit views on the proposal. If approved, refurbishment work would begin the following year with a target opening in September 2027. Families and community groups are encouraged to take part in the consultation.
What it means for families
For parents and carers of children with SEND, a locally based specialist facility can mean shorter travel times, stronger links with local services, and greater access to tailored therapy and education close to home. For the borough it represents a practical step toward meeting growing local demand for SEND places.
How Jimac Cars can help
If you need reliable, comfortable transport for school visits, consultations, or to attend local consultation events about the proposals, Jimac Cars is ready to support families and young people across Hackney and wider London. We offer punctual, accessible private-hire transport tailored to your needs.
More details are available here
Let Jimac Cars provide safe and reliable transport for families and young people with SEND transport, making every journey easier and stress-free.
