Great Stony School, Ongar: A Closed Community Special School with a Surprising Legacy
Tracing the story of a mixed special school for pupils aged 10–19, maintained by Hackney but located deep in rural Essex, and its apparent connection to the arts charity Zinc Arts.
Published: June 2026 · Research from DfE records, school data platforms, and the Charity Commission
School Type
Community Special School
Closed
Age Range
10 – 19 years
Mixed Gender
Location
High Street, Ongar
CM5 0AD
What Was Great Stony School?
Great Stony School was a community special school that provided education for boys and girls aged 10 to 19 with special educational needs. Unusually, it was maintained by the London Borough of Hackney but physically located on High Street in the quiet market town of Chipping Ongar, Essex — a typical arrangement for out‑of‑borough special schools used by urban local authorities.
The school operated as a mixed, non‑religious institution with no selective admissions policy. As a community special school, it was fully under local authority control and designed to meet the needs of children who could not be adequately supported in mainstream schools. Pupil numbers and detailed capacity are not recorded in the current snapshot, but the school would have offered small class sizes and specialised support.
School Profile at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| URN (Unique Reference Number) | 126612 |
| Full Name | Great Stony School |
| Address | Great Stony School, High Street, Ongar, Essex, CM5 0AD |
| Local Authority | Hackney |
| Type | Community special school |
| Phase of Education | Not applicable |
| Age Range | 10 – 19 |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Admissions Policy | Not applicable |
| Status | Closed |
| Ofsted Rating | None available |
| Ranking Score (SchoolScope) | 37.5 / 100 |
| Last Data Snapshot | 2025-07-14 |
The Story Behind Great Stony School
The school’s unusual set‑up — maintained by Hackney Council but situated in rural Essex — reflects a long‑standing practice among London boroughs of placing special schools outside the city. Such locations offered more space, a calmer environment, and larger grounds suitable for children who might benefit from being away from the inner city.
While the exact opening and closing dates are not recorded in the data sources, the school was still operational in the late 20th century. It eventually closed, and the site on High Street appears to have been taken over by Zinc Arts (formerly known as Zinc), an arts and education charity that uses the arts to empower people with disabilities and sensory impairments. The legacy contact details — phone number 01277 365626 and email info@zincarts.org.uk — now point to that organisation, suggesting a smooth transition from one form of specialist provision to another.
Interestingly, the charity's registered address is also at Great Stony School, High Street, Ongar, confirming the physical continuity. This repurposing means that although the school itself is gone, the building continues to serve the community, particularly people with additional needs, through creative and artistic programmes.
What’s on the Site Now? The Zinc Arts Connection
If you visit the address today, you won’t find a school — you’ll find Zinc Arts, a vibrant charity that uses drama, music, dance, and visual arts to support adults and young people with learning disabilities, autism, and other conditions. The organisation often runs workshops, residentials, and community events from the Ongar base.
While it is not a school in the traditional sense, the arts centre carries forward the spirit of Great Stony School: a place dedicated to inclusion, personal development, and specialist support. The building itself may have been adapted to include performance spaces, art studios, and accommodation.
"The transformation from special school to arts charity is a beautiful example of how educational spaces can be reimagined to continue serving the community in a new way."