Stepney Park is now an established and successful school. However, it remains relatively young, having opened in September 2020 following the amalgamation of two predecessor schools: Redlands and Smithy Street.

Over time, we have developed our own culture and our own school traditions, but we also remember the long histories of both our predecessor schools.

REDLANDS PRIMARY SCHOOL

Redlands Primary School was established in 1909, originally known as Redmans Road School. During the war and the post-war years, it was an infant school and children moved up from Redmans to Rutland School in Ashfield Street at the back of the hospital.

Within living memory of some members of staff and other local people who were children at the time, the school post-war was seen as a ‘Jewish School’ and the records confirm that the school closed for Jewish holidays such as Hanukkah, and provided kosher meals.

Different floors of the school were used by different establishments at different times: Dempsey used the school when numbers grew so large that they needed an annexe and the King Edward VII Nautical School used the top floor for a number of years.

Eventually, the decision was taken for Redmans and Rutland to amalgamate. This happened in 1972: Rutland closed and moved to Redmans and the school became a Junior and Mixed Infant Primary School. The name also amalgamated and the school became ‘Redlands’ as it remained until 2020.

By 2020, Redlands was a 2-form entry school with children from nursery up to year 6.  The majority of the school population were of Bangadeshi heritage.

SMITHY STREET PRIMARY SCHOOL

Smithy Street first opened its doors under the name of ‘Smith School’ in 1899. It served as both an infant and junior school and post-war the name was changed to match the street name, becoming Smithy Street School. At the time, the playground was on the roof with only a small yard alongside the school building. A row of houses was on the site of the current playground.

Due to a falling role and declining birth rate in the local area, the school closed its doors in the early 1970s. For the next 20 years or so, the school was used as an adult education centre with a car mechanics workshop installed on the lower floor.

However, in the late 1980’s there was a sharp rise in the population of Tower Hamlets, with an increasing number of children needing a school place. It was therefore decided that Smithy School would open its doors again to primary-aged children. In September 1991, the school re-launched under the name ‘Smithy Street Primary School’ with just 65 children spread across three classes. At the time of opening, Halley Primary School also reopened, but with their building not ready, they utilised the top floor of the Smithy building for a year, with Smithy Street using the bottom two floors.

The school roll grew continually and Smithy Street soon became a form and half entry school and then with further growth a two form entry school with a new wing built in 2011 to allow for the increased numbers.