Plans to shut a south London primary school, less than a decade after it opened, have received Government backing.
The Department for Education (DfE) has agreed in principle to shut Oasis Academy Putney at the end of the academic year. The DfE’s decision means Oasis Community Learning can move ahead with its plans to close the school, which it runs in Putney, due to falling pupil numbers.
John Barneby, CEO of Oasis Community Learning, said in February the school had not managed to attract enough pupils as families increasingly moved out of the area – with the impact of Covid-19 and the increased cost of living contributing to this shift.
Latest Government figures showed the school only had 121 pupils, aged four to 11, despite having capacity for 420 students.
It comes amid a widespread decline in pupil numbers in London.
The drop in pupil numbers is due to falling birth rates, and a combination of the cost of living crisis and soaring private housing costs forcing families to move out of London.
An estimated 90 primary or secondary schools in the capital have been forced to merge or close in the last five years.
Mr Barneby said: “This trend is not unique to our community; schools across London and the country are facing similar challenges, with falling pupil numbers making it increasingly difficult to maintain financial viability.
“Despite extensive work with the local authority and other partners to explore every possible alternative, we have not been able to identify a sustainable solution that would allow us to deliver the excellent education that every child deserves.”
The school opened less than a decade ago, in January 2017, on the site of the former Putney Hospital, which was demolished in 2012.
According to a report in the Construction Enquirer in 2014 the school was to cost £12million to build.
It kept its ‘Good’ rating at Ofsted’s latest inspection in December 2024, where it was described as providing pupils with a “rich and ambitious curriculum”.
An Oasis Community Learning spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) the trust’s priority was ensuring every pupil, family and staff member was fully supported during the school’s proposed closure.
They said the trust was working closely with Wandsworth Council and the DfE to secure all pupils alternative school places.
The spokesperson said: “Since the proposal was announced, we have already supported many families to move through in‑year transfers and continue to offer one‑to‑one guidance from senior leaders, so parents have clear, up‑to‑date information about next steps.
“Additional pastoral and PSHE support is in place to help pupils understand and manage the transition, and staff are working with receiving schools to ensure smooth handovers. For pupils with additional needs or vulnerabilities, we are working with families and the local authority to identify appropriate placements and ensure continuity of support.
“We recognise how difficult this period is for our community and remain focused on providing a high‑quality education through to the end of the year and helping every child move forward confidently into their next setting.”
The DfE will now explore the school’s case for closure in more detail, before inviting feedback from stakeholders.
The final decision will be made by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson. The school will close in July if the proposals are approved.
