UPDATED Oasis Academy Putney will close at the end of this academic year, leaving around 112 children to find new schools by September.
The closure follows December council papers that revealed “Oasis Putney has already been capped” and warned Putney must lose 60 to 90 Reception places by the end of the decade as part of Wandsworth’s ongoing school funding crisis.
John Barneby, CEO of Oasis Community Learning, wrote to ward councillors on Monday stating:
“Despite working closely with Wandsworth and others to explore every possible alternative, we have not been able to identify a sustainable solution.”
The school published its formal closure proposal on its website this morning. The final decision rests with the Secretary of State for Education following a statutory consultation period.
Oasis becomes the fifth Wandsworth primary school to close since 2023, joining Broadwater, Christchurch, St Anne’s and Goldfinch. The primary school on Lower Richmond Road has been operating at just 27% – 112 pupils against a capacity of 420.
School placement crisis
Richmond schools are operating at or near capacity, making cross-borough transfers difficult for affected Wandsworth families. At the same time, Wandsworth is managing surplus primary school places as families with young children move away from inner London.
The trust committed to supporting affected families through the transition. This includes help finding new school placements that meet every child’s needs and preferences, dedicated family support where parents can ask questions and share concerns, and practical guidance on timelines and local school choices. “We know this news will be deeply upsetting for many and we are committed to supporting our pupils, staff and families through this difficult time,” the trust’s statement said.
A good school caught in the ‘death spiral’
Oasis Academy Putney was rated Good by Ofsted at its most recent inspection in December 2024, maintaining its Good rating. Recent performance data shows 71% of pupils achieving higher standards in reading, writing and mathematics at key stage 2 – well above the national average.
The school opened in its current purpose-built premises on Putney Common in 2017, with award-winning outdoor learning. But falling birth rates and families moving away from inner London have left it operating at less than half capacity despite strong academic results.
Wandsworth Schools Forum warned in October 2025 that schools with the most Free School Meals pupils had lost 20.8% of their students since 2018. The funding formula penalises schools with high poverty rates, creating what has been described as a “death spiral” where falling middle-class enrolment drives budget cuts that push more families away.
December council projections showed Reception numbers across Putney’s three planning zones falling 6-8% by 2033, requiring cuts larger than the population decline because schools need at least 26 pupils per class to function properly.
What happens next
The Department for Education requires a statutory consultation period before any final closure decision. Parents can contact the school at queries.putney@oasisuk.org to participate or ask questions. As an academy, Wandsworth Council has no role in the closure decision – this rests with the Secretary of State for Education.
If approved, the closure would take effect in July 2026, requiring alternative placements for approximately 112 pupils from reception through year 6. The consultation timeline has not yet been announced.
Are you affected by this closure? If you’re a parent, staff member, or have concerns about school places in Putney, we want to hear from you. Contact news@putney.news or message us confidentially. Your voice matters in this story.
Correction, 5.30pm: This article was updated to correct pupil numbers (they have fallen further to 112), Ofsted inspection date (the latest inspection was December 2024), and opening year (the Academy opened fully in 2017). The school maintained its Good rating at the most recent inspection. We have also clarified that as an academy, Wandsworth Council has no role in the closure decision. We thank Oasis Community Learning for the corrections.
The money Wandsworth council waste is unbelievable. They caused this school crisis by taking a blip in birth rises and running with it. They opened new schools to accommodate a temporary rise in birth rates and on top of this they got other schools to expand by taking up valuable play space.
They also shut special needs provisions again leaving no places for children needs. With further cut to schools funding schools finding children’s needs difficult to manage. Now the council have decided to adapt and build within schools to house special education needs. I worked in one of these schools. So had firsthand knowledge of the way Wandsworth council waste money.