Nottinghamshire County Council is being asked to approve the closure of Dean Hole Church of England Primary School in Caunton later this year following a formal consultation which drew strong responses from residents, parents and community groups.
A report due to be considered by Cabinet on 5 March recommends the school closes from 31 August 2026 after officers concluded it faces ongoing financial and operational challenges linked to very low pupil numbers.
Dean Hole Church of England Primary School is a small voluntary controlled rural school serving Caunton and the surrounding area within the Caunton–Norwell primary planning area. The school was rated ‘good’ at its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2025, but currently has only eight statutory-age pupils on roll from Reception to Year 6, five of whom have Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). Council data shows that seven of those pupils live outside the school’s catchment area.
The proposed closure follows a prolonged period of uncertainty over the school’s future. A consultation in 2023 initially resulted in support for keeping the school open, alongside plans for academisation through TEAM Education Trust. Although approval was secured from the Diocese and the Department for Education, the process was paused in August 2025 and later cancelled for reasons unrelated to the school itself. Governors subsequently requested that a new formal consultation be undertaken.
The latest consultation ran between 14 January and 11 February 2026 and received 95 responses. Analysis of responses shows opinion divided, with 54 respondents opposing closure and 21 supporting it, while others neither agreed nor disagreed. Survey findings indicate that around 80 per cent of objections were primarily linked to concerns about the loss of community facilities rather than educational provision.
Many respondents described the school building as functioning effectively as Caunton’s village hall, hosting parish council meetings, polling station duties, sports clubs, social groups and community events. Residents raised concerns that closure could result in the loss of the village’s main shared indoor space, particularly as Caunton has limited alternative communal facilities. Several responses highlighted that parts of the building and facilities were historically funded or improved through local fundraising and community contributions.
Others supporting closure pointed to declining pupil numbers, financial pressures and the difficulty of sustaining education provision for such a small cohort. Council officers state that continuing without change is not considered viable, citing limited opportunities for peer learning, restricted access to group activities and challenges covering staff absences.
The report confirms there are sufficient alternative primary school places within the wider area, including several schools rated good or outstanding within approximately 6.5 miles of Caunton. If closure is approved, Nottinghamshire County Council will work with families to secure alternative placements and may provide home-to-school transport where pupils qualify under existing policy. Estimated transport costs for displaced pupils could be in the region of £20,000 to £25,000 per year, although final costs depend on future placements.
The school is forecast to hold a budget deficit of around £100,000 by August 2026, which would need to be met from the council’s core budget if closure proceeds. Staff employed at the school, including teaching, administrative and support roles, would be placed at risk, with redeployment support offered where possible.
The council notes there is a statutory presumption against closing rural schools, meaning closure should only take place where educational and financial challenges cannot reasonably be resolved. Alternative options including academisation, amalgamation with another school or continuing without change were considered during the consultation process but were not judged deliverable due to the absence of partner schools or trusts willing to proceed.
No decision has yet been taken on the future use of the school site. The local authority and the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham say discussions on potential future use will take place with the parish council and local community if closure is approved, although no proposals have been formally agreed.
Cabinet members will now consider the consultation findings and officer recommendations before making a final decision on whether Dean Hole Church of England Primary School should close at the end of the 2025/26 academic year.
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