More than 20 Hackney schools close early in heatwave 

More than 20 Hackney schools have closed or are sending pupils home early this week after the Met Office issued an extreme heat warning for London.

Headteachers across the borough have shortened the school day or shut entirely to protect children and staff, with the changes affecting nurseries, primaries and secondaries from Monday 23 June.

A handful of schools are closed altogether on some or all of the affected days. 

Simon Marks Jewish Primary School is shut on 23, 24 and 25 June, while Wentworth Nursery School is closed on 23 and 24 June. Stoke Newington School and Sixth Form is finishing early on Monday and closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Most schools are instead bringing forward the end of the day. Among those closing early are Cardinal Pole Catholic School, finishing at 1.20pm on 23, 24 and 25 June, and Clapton Girls’ Academy, closing at 2pm on the same three days. Gayhurst, Grasmere, Kingsmead and Mandeville primary schools are all closing from 1pm on 23 and 24 June, with Millfields Community School, Queensbridge Primary School and The Garden School finishing early on Monday alone.

Several have adjusted their hours rather than closing. Grazebrook Primary School and Woodberry Down Community Primary School are open from 8am to 1pm on Monday, while Shacklewell Primary School is running reduced hours of 8am to 1pm from Monday through to Friday 26 June.

Others are giving parents the choice. Rushmore Primary School, Springfield Community Primary School, Princess May Primary School and St Monica’s Catholic Primary School are among those offering optional early collection. Springfield and St John the Baptist CE Primary School said childcare would be available for children who could not be picked up early.

The decisions rest with individual headteachers, who weigh guidance from the Department for Education, the Health and Safety Executive, Public Health and the UK Health Security Agency before deciding whether to close or shorten the day.

Hackney Education said arrangements could change at short notice and urged parents to check directly with their child’s school. An up-to-date list is published on its website. 

Families have been advised to keep children hydrated and out of direct sun during the hot spell, and to contact their school before setting off.

Here are all 21 settings, grouped by what they’re doing. All changes are due to the hot weather.

Closed (full days)

• Simon Marks Jewish Primary School — closed 23, 24 and 25 June. 020 8806 6048, info@simonmarks.hackney.sch.uk
• Wentworth Nursery School — closed 23 and 24 June. 020 8985 3491, admin@wentworth.hackney.sch.uk
• Stoke Newington School and Sixth Form — closing early 23 June, closed 24 and 25 June. 020 7241 9600, admin@sns.hackney.sch.uk

Closing early

• Cardinal Pole Catholic School — closing 1.20pm on 23, 24 and 25 June (to majority of students). 020 8985 5150, enquiries@cardinalpole.co.uk
• Clapton Girls’ Academy — closing 2pm on 23, 24 and 25 June. 020 8985 6641, cga@clapton.hackney.sch.uk
• Gayhurst Community School — closing 1pm on 23 and 24 June. 020 7254 6138, admin@gayhurst.hackney.sch.uk
• Grasmere Primary School — closing 1pm on 23 and 24 June. 020 7254 4564, info@grasmere.hackney.sch.uk
• Kingsmead Primary School — closing 1pm on 23 and 24 June. 020 8985 5779, admin@kingsmead.hackney.sch.uk
• Mandeville Primary School — closing 1pm on 23 and 24 June. 020 8986 5249, mdvoffice@mandeville.hackney.sch.uk
• Millfields Community School — closing 1pm on 23 June. 020 8985 7898, info@millfields.hackney.sch.uk
• Queensbridge Primary School — closing 1pm on 23 June. 020 7254 1186, admin@queensbridge.hackney.sch.uk
• St John and St James CE Primary School — closing 1.30pm onwards on 23 June. 020 8153 3767, office@johnjames.hackney.sch.uk
• St John the Baptist CE Primary School — closing early on 23 June (childcare available). 020 7739 4902, office@st-john.hackney.sch.uk
• Stoke Newington School and Sixth Form — closing early 23 June. 020 7241 9600, admin@sns.hackney.sch.uk
• The Garden School — closing 1.15pm on 23 June. 020 7254 8096, admin@thegarden.hackney.sch.uk

Adjusted opening hours

• Grazebrook Primary School — 8am to 1pm on 23 June. 020 8802 4051, gboffice@newwavefederation.co.uk
• Woodberry Down Community Primary School — open 8am to 1pm on 23 June. 020 8800 5758, wdoffice@newwavefederation.co.uk
• Shacklewell Primary School — 8am to 1pm on 23, 24, 25 and 26 June. 020 7254 1415, SWoffice@newwavefederation.co.uk

Optional early collection

• Princess May Primary School — optional early collection 1.30pm on 23 June. 020 7254 1589, admin@princessmay.hackney.sch.uk
• Rushmore Primary School — collection from 2pm on 23, 24 and 25 June. 020 8985 3175, info@rushmore.hackney.sch.uk
• Springfield Community Primary School — collection from 1.30pm on 23 and 24 June (childcare available for those who can’t be collected). 020 8800 9007, admin@springfield.hackney.sch.uk
• St Monica’s Catholic Primary School — early collection on 23 June. 020 7739 5824, office@st-monicas.hackney.sch.uk