Snape Wood Primary & Nursery School in Bulwell has been recommended for closure due to a decline in pupil numbers over several years which has affected its financial stability and sustainability.
The recommendation, being discussed by Nottingham City Council’s Executive Board on 18 November, would see the school close on 31 August 2026 at the end of the 2025/26 academic year. It follows two separate phases of public consultation which took place between June and September this year.
All children attending Snape Wood Primary & Nursery School would be guaranteed a place at one of the other local primary schools and parents/carers will be able to apply for an alternative school place. Families are being encouraged to keep their children at Snape Wood until it closes to enable the process for children moving to new schools to be managed as seamlessly as possible. Also, by September next year, there will be more places available at alternative schools.
There has been a significant fall in primary pupil numbers nationally, which is reflected in the Bulwell area, mainly due to lower birth rates, which are continuing to decline. If schools have a high number of unfilled surplus places it means they receive reduced funding from central government which has a negative impact on pupils’ education.
Schools receive money from central government based on the number of pupils they admit which means schools with a high number of unfilled places are under difficult financial pressure and have less money for staff, resources, equipment, and activities for the children as well as for paying for bills and maintenance work.
The closest schools are Hempshill Hall Primary and Nursery, Rufford Primary and Nursery and Crabtree Farm Primary and Nursery and there will be sufficient capacity made available across these three local schools to accommodate pupils who currently attend Snape Wood. Affected families will be supported to apply for a place at their local school of choice and the normal admissions criteria would apply for available spaces.
Cllr Cheryl Barnard, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education said: “Snape Wood Primary has been an important part of the local community in Bulwell over many years so it’s very sad that we have had to consider the decision to close.
“We would only ever seek to close a school if there were no other options available and unfortunately this is the case with Snape Wood which. 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 the 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.”
“While Snape Wood remains open until July 2026, the education of the children will continue to be the highest priority. We hope families will choose to keep their children at the school until then so that we can ensure a smooth transition to their new schools in September.”