Snape Wood Primary & Nursery School in Bulwell is facing closure after a sustained drop in enrolment left it financially unviable. Nottingham City Council will consider the recommendation at its Executive Board meeting on 18 November, with a proposed closure date of 31 August 2026.
The council’s review followed two rounds of public consultation earlier this year. It found that falling birth rates have reduced pupil numbers across Bulwell and other parts of the country, cutting the per-pupil funding that schools receive from central government. With fewer children on roll, schools struggle to cover running costs, including staffing, maintenance, and classroom resources.
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.”
If approved, pupils currently attending Snape Wood would be offered places at nearby schools, including Hempshill Hall Primary, Rufford Primary, and Crabtree Farm Primary. The council says there will be sufficient capacity to accommodate all children before the 2026 academic year ends. Families will receive support in applying for alternative placements, while being encouraged to remain at Snape Wood until the closure process is complete.
The proposal is part of a broader effort to address the financial strain caused by declining school populations and to ensure local education provision remains sustainable.
