Gloucestershire County Council is committed to ensuring that the county’s children have the best education possible and that they receive a positive schooling experience wherever they attend.
The School Places Strategy provides the latest overview of demographic information for the county and includes a more detailed analysis of each school planning area, including historic trends and future projections. School planning areas align to the geographical locations of primary and secondary schools across the county and are agreed by the Department for Education. This information informs priorities for school place planning in the short (1-2 years), medium (3-5 years) and longer (5-10 years) term and will inform capital investment priorities moving forward. The School Places Strategy 2025-2030 is linked below.
Gloucestershire's Local Development Guide, which provides information about pupil yields from new development and the types of infrastructure for which the County Council may seek S106 contributions and/or Community Infrastructure Levy payments is linked below.
School reorganisations
Withington C of E Primary School closure - completed
The proposal put forward by the Governors was to close the school from 31st August 2026. The school had very low numbers on roll with no new pupils due admitted in September 2026. The accompanying financial situation is not sustainable in order to provide high-quality education. Sufficient alternative school places are available in the local area and all pupils on roll were allocated places at other local schools..
Withington C of E Primary School closure - completed
The proposal put forward by the Governors was to close the school from 31st August 2026. The school had very low numbers on roll with no new pupils due admitted in September 2026. The accompanying financial situation is not sustainable in order to provide high-quality education. Sufficient alternative school places are available in the local area and all pupils on roll were allocated places at other local schools..
Coalway Infant/Junior School project to create Coalway Primary School
The proposal was to create an all-through primary school from Reception to Year 6 with effect from 1 April 2026 by extending the age range of Coalway Junior School and closing Coalway Community Infant School. The all-through primary school would continue to admit 60 pupils (in Reception) at the start of each academic year and have an overall capacity of 420 places. It would be located on the site of the existing infant and junior school buildings.
Technically, this proposal involves extending the age range of the Junior school and closing the Infant school. The age range of the Junior school would expand from ages 7 to 11 to ages 4 to 11 with effect from 1 April 2026.
All pupils on the school roll on 31 March 2026 in both Coalway Community Infant and Junior schools would transfer to the roll of the all-through primary school on 1 April 2026.
The primary school would have a single governing body and a single headteacher along with a single DfE number and Ofsted inspection.
Coalway Infant/Junior School project to create Coalway Primary School
The proposal was to create an all-through primary school from Reception to Year 6 with effect from 1 April 2026 by extending the age range of Coalway Junior School and closing Coalway Community Infant School. The all-through primary school would continue to admit 60 pupils (in Reception) at the start of each academic year and have an overall capacity of 420 places. It would be located on the site of the existing infant and junior school buildings.
Technically, this proposal involves extending the age range of the Junior school and closing the Infant school. The age range of the Junior school would expand from ages 7 to 11 to ages 4 to 11 with effect from 1 April 2026.
All pupils on the school roll on 31 March 2026 in both Coalway Community Infant and Junior schools would transfer to the roll of the all-through primary school on 1 April 2026.
The primary school would have a single governing body and a single headteacher along with a single DfE number and Ofsted inspection.
Creating a single Pupil Referral Unit for Gloucester and Stroud - completed
Gloucestershire’s Alternative Provision Transformation Project was launched in June 2020 and supports Gloucestershire's Education Inclusion Strategy 2022-25. As part of this we are seeking to improve the arrangements that are in place for the children and young people in Gloucestershire who have been, or are at risk of being, excluded from school.
Gloucestershire County Council has worked with the management committees of Severn Valley School and the Gloucester and Forest Alternative Provision School (GFAPS) to bring the two schools together as a single institution, The Altus School, with effect from 1 September 2023. The intention is that this will enable them to continue to provide high quality education at the right time and in the right way for this group of vulnerable learners so that they can achieve the best possible outcomes.
The background information document (DOCX, 600.7 KB) (DOCX, 600.7 KB) provides further information on this proposal and explains how key stakeholders were able to express a view on this proposal through a period of engagement.
The existing sites across the county will remain in operation and the council continues to work with the schools to identify improvements that can be made to the accommodation and learning environments. These have included:
Creating a single Pupil Referral Unit for Gloucester and Stroud - completed
Gloucestershire’s Alternative Provision Transformation Project was launched in June 2020 and supports Gloucestershire's Education Inclusion Strategy 2022-25. As part of this we are seeking to improve the arrangements that are in place for the children and young people in Gloucestershire who have been, or are at risk of being, excluded from school.
Gloucestershire County Council has worked with the management committees of Severn Valley School and the Gloucester and Forest Alternative Provision School (GFAPS) to bring the two schools together as a single institution, The Altus School, with effect from 1 September 2023. The intention is that this will enable them to continue to provide high quality education at the right time and in the right way for this group of vulnerable learners so that they can achieve the best possible outcomes.
The background information document (DOCX, 600.7 KB) (DOCX, 600.7 KB) provides further information on this proposal and explains how key stakeholders were able to express a view on this proposal through a period of engagement.
The existing sites across the county will remain in operation and the council continues to work with the schools to identify improvements that can be made to the accommodation and learning environments. These have included:
urrent projects:
Ashleworth C of E Primary School - Details of the proposals and ways of commenting on them can be found here
Ashleworth C of E Primary is a 4-11 Church of England voluntary controlled primary school.
The school currently offers 8 Reception places each year with a total capacity for 56 pupils. In May 2026 there were 15 pupils in attendance, however, as of 1 September 2026, there were no pupils on roll.
Families are choosing alternative schools in the local area, and the ongoing low numbers of pupils have limited what the school can offer in terms of a broad, balanced and effective education and an appropriate peer group. The social development of pupils is a key issue.
An Ofsted inspection in March 2026 (report June 2026) placed the school in special measures. If a school is placed in special measures, it means that Ofsted has judged that the school is not providing an acceptable standard of education. This does not mean a school is unsafe, nor that children should move schools, but it does mean that aspects of the school’s provision require urgent action.
As a result, Gloucestershire County Council considers that the school is no longer viable and is now seeking feedback on a proposal to close the school as of 1 April 2027.
urrent projects:
Ashleworth C of E Primary School - Details of the proposals and ways of commenting on them can be found here
Ashleworth C of E Primary is a 4-11 Church of England voluntary controlled primary school.
The school currently offers 8 Reception places each year with a total capacity for 56 pupils. In May 2026 there were 15 pupils in attendance, however, as of 1 September 2026, there were no pupils on roll.
Families are choosing alternative schools in the local area, and the ongoing low numbers of pupils have limited what the school can offer in terms of a broad, balanced and effective education and an appropriate peer group. The social development of pupils is a key issue.
An Ofsted inspection in March 2026 (report June 2026) placed the school in special measures. If a school is placed in special measures, it means that Ofsted has judged that the school is not providing an acceptable standard of education. This does not mean a school is unsafe, nor that children should move schools, but it does mean that aspects of the school’s provision require urgent action.
As a result, Gloucestershire County Council considers that the school is no longer viable and is now seeking feedback on a proposal to close the school as of 1 April 2027.