Next step for closure of school with falling numbers

Pupil vacancies at Snape Wood Primary and Nursery School are predicted to rise to 60% by next summer

The closure of a primary school in Nottingham, due to consistently falling pupil numbers, has moved a step closer.

Snape Wood Primary and Nursery School in Bulwell has space for 210 pupils but currently has more than 80 vacancies and this is expected to rise to around 125 by next summer.

Nottingham City Council said this was affecting funding and launched a consultation on its future in June.

Now, the council has agreed to go to a second stage consultation, which will see a statutory notice issued on 1 September with a view to closing the school in August 2026.

The second consultation period will run from 1 to 28 September with a final decision by the council's Executive Board expected in November.

When it launched the first consultation, the council said the school had done its best to manage the situation but intake was predicted to fall further.

A spokesperson said the move was "very difficult" but no other option had been found.

The authority confirmed there was sufficient capacity at nearby Hempshill Hall, Rufford and Crabtree Farm primaries to accommodate children at Snape Wood.