Main hall roof at school under threat of merger needs work to prevent ‘imminent failure’

Colvestone Primary School

Urgent work is needed on the main hall roof of a Dalston primary school at risk of a merger because of falling school rolls.

The work at Colvestone is needed “to prevent imminent failure” of the roof, which has been out of bounds since May last year.

It will see rafters replaced to reinforce the 100-year-old structure.

Hackney Council has applied for listed building consent for the Grade II-listed school, which was built in Gothic style in 1862.

Unusually, the school on Colvestone Crescent has Grade II-listed railings.

Colvestone is likely to merge with another primary school in September 2024 because a drop in the number of pupils means it is losing government funding.

The council has launched an informal consultation over the school’s future, together with five other primaries, including De Beauvoir and Randal Cremer, which are likely to close.

The problem in the school hall was first spotted in 2017 during maintenance surveys and was made a priority in 2020 – with contractors appointed in 2022.

The condition of the roof has been monitored by experts, who said the “defects were significant”.

In its design and access statement explaining why the work is needed, lead designer McBains said the rafters have been deteriorating for a long time and splits in the wood have increased since an inspection more than a year ago.

The report said: “It is essential that this area of the building is reinstated for use without further delay.”

Consultation over the listed building consent closes on 6 July.

Update: this article was amended at midday on 6 June 2023. The roof of the main school hall requires work, not the dining hall as previously stated.