Waterside Primary School in Nottingham has closed without any students attending, leaving parents frustrated over the lack of demand.
Nottingham: So, there’s this brand new school called Waterside Primary, right? It was supposed to be this shiny, eco-friendly place for kids, but guess what? It’s completely empty. Parents are pretty upset about it.
The school was meant to open last September and had plans for 210 kids, plus 30 nursery spots. But hardly anyone signed up. It’s in this new housing area called Trent Basin, but most of the folks moving in are young couples without kids. So, it makes sense why no one showed up.
People living in the area are calling it a “ghost school.” One resident mentioned that they’re retired and their kids are all grown up. They said, “I can only think of a handful of families with school-age kids living here.” It’s a real bummer because the school looks amazing, but it’s just in the wrong spot.
Another person who just moved in with her boyfriend said they might have kids someday, but they’re not in a rush. She was surprised to hear about the school since most people she knows are in their 20s and don’t have kids yet.
Some families are even thinking about moving away because of the school situation. The whole project was managed by the Department for Education, and the Greenwood Academies Trust was supposed to run it. They were all set to open last year, but that didn’t happen.
Waterside Primary was supposed to hire 22 staff members, but since no kids signed up, the funding got pulled. Now, the trust is looking for a new purpose for the building.
A spokesperson mentioned that there just aren’t enough kids in the area to justify the school. They’re now trying to figure out a different use for the site that could still help the community.
In the end, the Department for Education said they’re focused on opening schools where there’s a real need. It looks like Waterside Primary just didn’t fit the bill.
