Closure of city primary school approved

Nottingham City Council's executive board approved the closure of Snape Wood Primary and Nursery School in Bulwell

A primary school in Nottingham is to close next year due to falling pupil numbers.

Snape Wood Primary and Nursery School in Bulwell had 62 pupils as of the latest count in September, despite a capacity of 210 - unfilled spaces were expected to hit 60% by 2028.

Labour-run Nottingham City Council's executive board approved the closure at a meeting on Tuesday, when leader Neghat Khan said "continuing operations would compromise education quality".

The school will close on 31 August but the authority said all pupils were guaranteed a place at a local primary school.

The council said the numbers of pupils at the school had been falling since the consultation on its closure began in June.

In September, there were only three pupils in Year 2 and four in Reception.

The authority said there had been a significant fall in pupil numbers due to lower birth rates in the Bulwell area.

A council report said there were 649 births in Bulwell in 2010-11, which fell to 391 births in 2023-24.

Speaking at the school gates last week, parents accepted the school would likely be closed but said children were "heartbroken".

Jade Roberts's two younger siblings attend the school

Jade Roberts, 20, from Bulwell, whose two younger siblings attend the school, said: "My brother is sad that he's losing all his friends because all the kids are going to different schools.

"It's sad on the kids, they are heartbroken about it.

"It's been talked about for a very long time. Now it feels real, like it's actually happening. There are hardly any students in classes any more."

Kevin Shepherd said the school should be turned into a special education facility

Kevin Shepherd, who has two children at the school in Year 6 and Year 1, also said they were "heartbroken".

"At the moment my kids are settled," he said. "My oldest is going to senior school and my youngest has only just started full-time, so she's got to find a new school now.

"It will hurt my daughter because she has friends here.

"They should make it a school for people with learning difficulties rather than get rid of it."

Darren Stocks, who has eight children who have been pupils at Snape Wood, said: "It's the end of an era.

"Too many kids have gone now and there's only three classrooms.

"It's a good school. It is sad but we've got to move on."

Ahead of the meeting, Cheryl Barnard, executive member for children, young people and education, said the school had "been an important part of the local community in Bulwell over many years".

She added: "Prior to consultation on closure commencing in June this year, there were 42% of places unfilled, expected to increase to 60% by 2028-29, which was by far the highest number of surplus places of all the schools in Bulwell.

"Closure has been proposed in the best interests of children and families in Bulwell and will enable us to create stronger and more sustainable school provision in the area, ensuring all local schools are fit for the future and able to provide high-quality education to their communities."