Nottinghamshire County Council is being asked to approve the closure of a small village primary school near Newark following a consultation into its future.
A report to the council’s Cabinet recommends that Dean Hole Church of England Primary School in Caunton should close from 31 August 2026 due to ongoing concerns about its long-term viability.
The voluntary-controlled school currently has a published admission number of eight pupils and is maintained by Nottinghamshire County Council. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2025 rated the school as ‘good’.
The issue of the school’s future has been under consideration for several years. In 2023 the governing body asked the county council to consult on possible options for the school. At that stage most respondents supported keeping the school open and a proposal was put forward for the school to join the TEAM Education Trust.
With approval from the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham and the Department for Education, the school had been due to become an academy from September 2025. However, the Department for Education informed the council in August 2025 that the academisation process would be paused and later confirmed in October that it could not proceed due to factors unrelated to the school.
As a result, the governing body requested that a new formal consultation be undertaken to consider the school’s future.
The county council opened a second consultation on 14 January 2026 asking for views on a proposal to close the school. The consultation closed on 11 February and received 95 responses.
Of the 54 responses opposing the closure, around 80 per cent cited concerns about the potential loss of the school building and grounds as a community resource rather than educational issues.
The school currently has eight statutory-age pupils from Reception to Year 6, five of whom have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), with one further pupil applying for one.
Council officers say that alternative school places are available within the wider Caunton–Norwell planning area and nearby communities. Several primary schools rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted are located within around six miles, including Norwell Church of England Primary School, Muskham Primary School and Holy Trinity Church of England Infant School in Newark.
Seven of the eight pupils currently attending Dean Hole do not live within the school’s catchment area. The council says it will work with families to secure suitable alternative placements if the closure is approved, and some pupils may transfer before the formal closure date to ensure continuity of education.
Transport assistance may be provided where pupils are eligible under the county council’s home-to-school transport policy. Officials estimate that if all eight pupils required transport to a school up to five miles away, the annual cost could be between £20,000 and £25,000, although final costs would depend on where children are placed.
The report also highlights the role the school plays within the village community. The building and grounds are currently used by several groups including the cricket club, tennis and netball activities, a gardening club, a history club and as a polling station during elections.
Caunton Parish Council has said it would like to see the site continue to be used by the community if the school closes. However, the county council and the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham have not yet decided how the building and grounds might be used in the future.
Officers say that continuing to operate the school in its current form is unlikely to be viable. The very small number of pupils limits opportunities for collaborative learning and social interaction with peers of a similar age, while staffing arrangements make it difficult to cover absences.
Other options considered during the consultation process included continuing with no changes, academisation or amalgamating with another school. However, neither another school nor a multi-academy trust has come forward to pursue these options.
The council also notes that although a small housing development is planned within the catchment area, pupil numbers are not expected to increase significantly in the medium to long term.
Financial forecasts show that the school is expected to hold a deficit budget of around £100,000 by August 2026 if it remains open, which would need to be funded by the county council.
If Cabinet approves the recommendation, the closure would take effect from 31 August 2026. Staff including a teacher, office administrator and teaching assistants would be affected, with the council saying redeployment support would be offered where possible.
A final decision on the proposal will be made by Nottinghamshire County Council’s Cabinet.
