NewsWise Pupil Reports

The following articles are made up of excerpts of reports by pupils from Holmleigh primary school.

Two local schools merge

Alfie, Josie and Hawi

Yesterday, it was confirmed that Holmleigh primary school and Sir Thomas Abney primary school are merging. This is due to the declining birth rate during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The schools will merge together because Sir Thomas Abney is big enough for a three form entry school but it’s a two form entry school. So instead of closing down the school they’ll merge with Holmleigh.

Schools all over London that are big enough for three classes but only use two thirds of them will be either closed down or merged with another school.

Hackney council have announced they will merge because of the lack of students. For example, the minimum number of children you need in a class is 30, but at Sir Thomas Abney they only have 22 [children in a class].

The headteachers of both schools found out in September 2024 but the pupils and parents found out in October 2024.

At this moment in time the schools are preparing for the move. Some students are excited. Many teachers are nervous. There are many mixed feelings. Some people want the merger and some people are against it because they picked Holmleigh because of the fact it is one form entry. People from Holmleigh have been upset with the news and even started protesting.

A year six pupil stated: “Yes, I know that I am leaving when the merger is happening but I have been in this building for eight years. I would like to visit my old school when I leave.”

One person from year 3 said: “I am so upset, I have been in this school since I was little, now we have to move.”

A child from Holmleigh primary school said: “The Hackney educational trust can’t just bring us to another school and use this as an apartment building.”

McKenzie, from Sir Thomas Abney, explained: “I’m extremely excited for more pupils to attend our school!”

Parents and other carers are concerned and worried about this change because some parents and carers are going to have to take longer for their child to arrive at school.

Miss Boateng, the headteacher, may choose a select few teachers to teach in the new Holmleigh site.

These reports are about a very newsworthy topic and contain balanced points of view. Well done everyone!

Merger disrupts school life

Eleanor

Hackney council decided yesterday that they will go ahead with the merger with Holmleigh and Sir Thomas Abney primary schools because the British birth rate has decreased.

Sir Thomas Abney will close down and Holmleigh primary school will move onto the site.

This idea was proposed to the headteacher of Holmleigh primary school, Miss Boateng, in September 2024. The students and most of the teachers only found out in October 2024.

The merger will take place in the summer of 2025 when the current year 6 class have left and the school year has ended.

Many parents are angry because this will be a big disruption in their children's daily lives.

Children are also very angry and upset because they will have to get used to a new and bigger school and they will have to leave all their memories from the school.

Parents are worried that moving from a one-form entry school to a two-form entry school will affect their children badly. A year five parent said: "It will be very hard for my child as one-form entry schools bring a real sense of community to their learning and have a safe and friendly teaching environment."

From October, there have been many meetings and discussions questioning the merger and the children voiced their opinions on post-it-notes in the Holmleigh school hall.

Many Sir Thomas Abney teachers are angered too as they will be made redundant when the school moves. If headteacher Miss Boateng decides however, she may choose a select few teachers to teach in the new Holmleigh site.

After the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been less and less children so schools have been empty - this is the reason many schools are closing around the UK.

Teachers are wondering about other school's futures too as the current Sir Thomas Abney site is big enough for a three-form entry school

This report has a great 5W paragraph and tells us all the key details of the story in a clear way. Well done!

School move

Zac, Thomas, Julia, Layla and Leah, Lewi, Mason, Amariyah

Yesterday it was confirmed that Holmleigh Primary School is forced, by the local council, to merge with another school, Sir Thomas Abney, in September 2025.

In October 2024, Hackney council proposed a deal to, instead of close Sir Thomas Abney, merge it with Holmleigh and Holmleigh would stay but use their site.

Mrs Boateng, the Holmleigh headteacher, said: “It’s really disappointing that we have to move. We know that there’s a lot of parents who chose to go to Holmleigh because we’re a one-form entry school and so it is a real shame that we’re moving and becoming two-form entry.”

The reason this was proposed by the council is because Sir Thomas Abney is struggling to find enough pupils to fit their three-form entry site because of a decrease in birthrate in the local area, whereas Holmleigh has lots of pupils and isn’t very far away.

There has never been a merge in Holmleigh’s history as it was only made in the second world war since the birth rate was going really high. This is going to be the first move in their history.

A year six student from Holmleigh, Kaiden, shared that the two schools consider each other rivals of sorts, due to football matches.

Miss Jane said: “I’m really going to miss Holmleigh, it's a wonderful place. It’s something that some people have grown up in.”

Parents have claimed that they are furious with the merger. Georgiana’s mother informed us: “The whole reason I put her into this school is because it's a one-form-entry school and now it’s become a three class school. This is honestly horrible.”

Josie informed us: “I know I’m in year six but I also want to visit my old school.”

Some parents were happy about the decision. One of the council members stated: “I think it was a great idea to merge the two schools because not only will it be helping both schools and making a better community, bigger schools mean more friends and a better education.”

Mr Marvin, one of the teachers at Sir Thomas Abney, said: “I think it is fine for the schools to merge because our school does not have enough pupils.”

All of the teachers at Holmleigh will move to the Sir Thomas Abney building and keep working there.

During the upcoming summer holidays everything will be moved to the other school ready to start the new year. Sir Thomas Abney is going to be named Holmleigh Primary School.

These journalists all used quotes well to produce a balanced and informative news report. Well done!

School moves school

Luke

A school in Hackney is merging with their neighbours due to a lack of students because of a low birthrate in the local area. The merge will take place on 1 September.

Hackney council have recently decided to merge two schools together. The idea came up in September letting some students know, but the majority of students received the news in October last year.

When the change happens, teachers from Holmleigh Primary School have the option to keep teaching or to leave the school. Whereas the other teachers will automatically be made redundant unless hired by the headteacher of Holmleigh, Miss Boateng, if extra staff were needed.

The teacher of year six at Holmleigh, Mr Mathewson, complained: “I am very upset about this decision as I think it ruins the history of Holmleigh, changing it into a two- to three-form entry school.”

Pupils say they are very disappointed with the idea and even children from year six who will not be here say they would like to visit their old school and the same building.

When the change has been completed the council plans to knock it down the schools to build a block or blocks of flats.

This journalist used the news report structure very well to write an interesting and informative report. Well done!

School moves

Yesterday afternoon, Hackney council confirmed the merger with Sir Thomas Abney and Holmeigh primary schools due to the fall in birthrate during Covid.

The council has decided this as Sir Thomas Abney does not have enough students in their classes.

Once Holmleigh move, they will rename Sir Thomas Abney as Holmleigh primary school.

Reporters have spoken to some students from both Sir Thomas Abney and Holmleigh primary schools.

A boy named Samuel said: "It is very disappointing to see that teachers are going to lose their jobs and we are going to have new teachers we have never seen before."

Students from Holmleigh said: "We are disappointed as this has been our school for a long period of time and it would be sad to see our school being knocked down."

Children from Holmleigh have been planning to protest, getting parents and teachers involved. Letters about the protest have been sent out.

This journalist wrote a very well balanced news report. Well done!