Waterside Primary School, built as a ‘net zero’ education centre, has left parents and locals furious as it has been closed without a single pupil ever stepping foot in one of its classrooms
A new “net zero” school has left parents furious, as the primary school closed before a single student entered a classroom.
It is believed Waterside Primary School closed due to a lack of demand. The school, meant to open last September, had promised to cater to 210 pupils with 30 nursery places on offer. But only a few parents applied for their children to attend the school in Trent Basin, Nottingham, meaning it was shut before term even started.
Waterside Primary School had hoped children living in the 350-home Nottingham Waterside Trent Basin development would attend the school, but locals say most people who moved into the houses and apartments are young couples and professionals without kids.
Homes in the Nottingham Waterside Trent Basin, which cost up to £500,000, has left locals disgruntled by what they are now calling a “ghost school”. One resident who did not wish to be named said: “My wife and I are retired and our children have grown up and flown the nest.
“I can only think of a handful of families with school age children living here so I am not surprised the school shut before it even opened. It seems an awful waste of money and something which really should have been foreseen. It’s a shame because the school buildings look immaculate and very modern but sadly it’s been built in completely the wrong place.”
Another resident, who moved into an apartment with her boyfriend, added: “My partner and I might have kids one day but we’re not rushing. Even if we do have children I think we’ll probably move to a house in the suburbs rather than stay here. When I heard a school was being built near the estate I was surprised because the people I know here are mostly in their 20s like us without kids.”
Some families are even considering selling up after moving to the area because of its close proximity to the now closed school. The school project was overseen by the Department for Education (DfE), and the Greenwood Academies Trust had intended to run it. Its first pupils in the school were supposed to have been ready for term time in September last year, but this was pushed back.
Waterside Primary School was set to employ 22 staff, but the DfE pulled funding from the school due to the low pupil turnout and the academy trust has also pulled out of the agreement. The trust says it will now be trying to find an “alternate use for the site”.
A spokesperson said: “In recent conversations, it has become apparent that, with surplus primary places in the area there is not sufficient demand for this school to fulfil the rigorous criteria for meeting place planning needs and that the DfE would not, therefore, put in place a funding agreement to open the school.
“As a result, the Trust made the difficult decision to reluctantly withdraw as the prospective operator of the school. As a Trust, we are dedicated to supporting our communities and we will continue to work closely alongside local partners to uphold this commitment.
“This includes recommending an alternate use for the site which will benefit the educational landscape of the area and we will be sharing more details of this proposal in due course.”
A DfE spokesperson previously said: “Ministers have accepted Greenwood Academies Trust’s request to withdraw the Waterside Primary pipeline project from the pre-opening stage. Our priority is to establish schools where there is a need for places and ensure government funding is targeted to where it is most needed.
“The demand for places at the proposed school has not materialised at the rate expected in Nottingham City Council’s basic need forecasts.”
A council spokesperson added: “The Department for Education has confirmed that the proposed Waterside Primary Academy does not currently meet the rigorous criteria it sets for the funding of free schools and that the proposers, the Greenwood Academies Trust have decided to withdraw their application. We are in discussions with the department about the best way forward for the site.”
