South Hackney Upper School

South Hackney Upper School is a large building from the late 19th century, designed in an elaborate Renaissance style. It is constructed of red brick with terra-cotta dressings. The central block features a high-pitched hipped tiled roof, flanked by a staircase tower and lower set-back linking bays, with end sections that form the fronts of side wings. These elements are topped with parapets of varying styles, with the tower sections adorned by large vase finials.

The ground floor is rusticated brick, featuring tall, rusticated gauged brick window arches with triple keyblocks that rise to a cornice. Above this, rusticated quoins and pilasters support enriched entablatures. The upper tower windows are three-light with column mullions, entablature, and a shell head set in a round moulded architrave. The linking sections have a row of round windows. The first-floor windows at the centre and ends are framed with eared architraves, console bracketed cornices, and open pediments decorated with foliage ornament. Additionally, there is a projecting two-storey bay with a copper roof on the left return.