Families affected by the proposed school closure face difficult decisions over the coming months. Here’s what you need to know about the process, your options, and where to get support.
Oasis Academy Putney announced on Tuesday that it plans to close at the end of this academic year, affecting 112 pupils who would need new schools by September. The final decision rests with the Secretary of State for Education following a statutory consultation.
While the closure isn’t legally confirmed, families should realistically prepare for it to proceed. Previous Wandsworth school closures – Christchurch, St Anne’s, and Goldfinch primaries – all followed this same consultation process and were approved.
The proposed Oasis Academy Putney closure is the fifth Wandsworth primary to face closure or conversion since 2023.
The consultation process
Oasis must run a statutory consultation before the Secretary of State makes a final decision. The formal consultation timeline has not yet been announced.
During consultation, families can share their views with Oasis and the Department for Education. These responses will be considered before any final approval. However, the school has cited falling pupil numbers and financial unviability as the reason for closure – issues that consultation feedback is unlikely to resolve.
Parents can contact the school at queries.putney@oasisuk.org with questions or to participate in the consultation process once details are announced.
Finding a new school place
Families should begin researching alternative schools now and contact schools directly to understand availability and application processes.
If applying to Wandsworth schools: Contact Wandsworth Council’s admissions team at admissions@wandsworth.gov.uk or call 020 8871 7316. The phone line operates Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm. Email contact is available outside these hours, and the council recommends email due to high call volumes.
If you had previously applied for an Oasis Academy Putney place for September 2026, you should have received an email from the council on 11 February offering the opportunity to add additional schools to your application. The deadline for this was 16 February.
If applying to schools in other boroughs: You will need to use that borough’s application process and forms. Contact the other borough’s admissions team directly. However, you should also inform Wandsworth Council of your application plans, as your child is currently registered in a Wandsworth school and the council needs to account for school leavers.
Taking control of the process: Schools and councils typically do not respond during school holidays. Parents should expect to drive the process themselves rather than waiting for officials to contact them. Set up direct communication with your preferred schools early, and follow up regularly on application status. The admissions process can take several weeks, so start as soon as possible.
Where places are available
Primary school enrolment across Wandsworth has fallen by 2,132 pupils over the past five years. This means some schools have available capacity, though specific vacancy information changes frequently.
According to information shared during the closure announcement, Richmond schools are operating at or near capacity with waiting lists. Families considering cross-borough applications should verify current availability directly with Richmond Council’s admissions team rather than relying on general statements about capacity.
Contact schools directly to ask about current and projected vacancies in your child’s year group. This is more reliable than waiting for council teams to provide availability data.
Support for children with special educational needs
School transitions are particularly challenging for children with EHCPs, and Oasis families face this during an already difficult closure situation. If your child has an EHCP, prepare for an uphill struggle.
Wandsworth’s SEND system is “under significant strain” and the council acknowledges it is “no longer fit for purpose,” according to a February 2026 Overview and Scrutiny Committee report on EHCP demand. The same report reveals that parents must often “hold the system themselves” through fragmented services, with school transitions identified as “points of vulnerability.”
Critical warning: The council is actively working to “lessen reliance on EHCPs” and move toward mainstream support instead. During your child’s school transfer, you may face pressure to downgrade or remove their EHCP – even though schools told the council that EHCPs are “a key route to securing vital resources” that children genuinely need.
What you need to know:
Placement is difficult. Recent Schools Forum papers report it now takes “10 or more attempts to place a child in the borough” before using independent provision.
Transitions are vulnerable. The scrutiny report identifies school moves as times of “inconsistent transition planning” when children’s support can fall through gaps.
You must advocate persistently. Document everything – assessments, communications, promises made – and don’t assume your child’s existing plan will transfer smoothly.
Get support immediately:
Contact Wandsworth Information, Advice and Support Service (WIASS) as soon as possible. Email wiass@wandsworth.gov.uk or call 020 8871 8065 (Monday 10am-1pm, Wednesday 1:30pm-4:30pm, Friday 10am-1pm, term time only).
WIASS provides free, confidential support to help you navigate the transfer process and protect your child’s provision.
Nursery and community groups affected
The closure also affects nursery provision and community organisations currently based at the school.
Wild about Play forest nursery, which operates from the school site, has been told it will close at the end of March 2026 – four months earlier than the proposed school closure. Parents with children in nursery provision should contact the setting directly for information about alternative arrangements.
Community groups currently using the school building, including charities and faith organisations, will also need to find new premises. Contact your organisation directly for updates on relocation plans.
The school serves as a community hub for groups across Putney. Families and organisations affected by the closure of these services should raise this impact during the consultation process.
What Oasis is offering
The school has committed to supporting families through the transition. This includes help finding new placements that meet each child’s needs, family support for questions and concerns, and practical guidance on the application process.
Oasis says it will hold information sessions once consultation details are confirmed. Contact the school directly at queries.putney@oasisuk.org to access this support and stay informed about the process.
Parents should take advantage of Oasis’s support services rather than relying solely on council processes. The school has direct knowledge of each child’s needs and can provide personalized guidance on suitable alternative schools.
What happens next
The timeline for final decision depends on when the statutory consultation completes. Once Oasis submits its closure proposal to the Secretary of State, approval typically takes several weeks.
If approved, the school would close in July 2026. This would require all families to have secured alternative placements before the start of the 2026-27 academic year in September.
Putney.news will update this guide when consultation details are announced and as the approval process progresses.
Background: the wider context
Oasis Academy Putney currently has 112 pupils against a capacity of 420 – just 27% occupancy. The school opened in its current purpose-built premises on Putney Common in September 2016, starting with early years provision and expanding each year.
Despite strong Ofsted ratings (Good in its most recent inspection in December 2024) and academic performance above national averages, falling pupil numbers across Putney have left the school financially unsustainable.
The closure proposal is part of a broader pattern affecting Wandsworth primary schools. Four schools have already closed or converted since 2023: Broadwater Primary (converted to SEND provision in August 2023), Christchurch Primary (August 2024), St Anne’s Primary (August 2025), and Goldfinch Primary (August 2025).
Primary enrolment across Wandsworth has fallen by 71 forms of entry over five years, creating financial pressure on schools operating below capacity.
