St Teresa’s RC Primary School Closure Proposal

Proposal

We are starting a consultation on a proposal to close St Teresa’s RC Primary School on 31 August 2027. 

This proposal has been made after careful and thorough consideration, as we recognise the impact it will have on the school community.

You can submit comments on the proposal on our engagement hub.

Background

There has been a significant decrease in the number of children seeking a primary school place due to the declining birth rate. This is a national trend, and the impact of falling school rolls is an issue across the country. 

School funding is mainly decided by the number of children at the school, so when there are fewer children at a school, there is less funding, even if there is the same number of classes.

We have a statutory duty to make sure there are the right number of school places in our area. We monitor surplus reception places, a key measure of demand, and aim to maintain between 5 and 10% surplus. This allows for parental preference and for children who move across Trafford and into our area. 

Since 2024, we have reduced published admission numbers in some schools to help reduce the surplus places. So far, we have removed 200 reception places in this way, and a further 30 are planned. Despite this, the number of unused reception places for 2026 is 22% across Trafford. 

Pupil numbers

St Teresa’s Roman Catholic (RC) Primary School is a voluntary aided school in Stretford with a published admission number of 30 and a capacity for 210 pupils. It is within the Diocese of Salford and is a local authority-maintained school.

Stretford is one of the areas most affected by the reduction in primary school numbers, with a 9% decrease in the last three years. St Teresa’s RC Primary School has seen a reduction of 34% in pupil numbers in the same period. Due to low pupil numbers, the school currently has some mixed-age classes. It has also been consulted to permanently reduce the admission number from 30 to 15 from 2027.

The school has been consistently undersubscribed in recent years. The current occupancy level is 55%, and this is forecast to drop to 48% in September 2026. Such low numbers create financial challenges. Despite the significant efforts of the governing body, the school is no longer financially viable. Pupil numbers are expected to reduce further in the next three years. 

This means there is no financial plan which would allow the school to return to a sustainable budget position.

Current pupils

There are currently 115 children on the school roll and 7 children in the nursery. 

21 children in year 6 will leave in July 2026 as they move to secondary school. 18 children in year 5 will leave in July 2027 when they move to secondary school, before the proposed closure date.

If the proposal went ahead, we estimate it would affect 81 school-age children. This includes 76 children in the current reception year through to year 4. There are a further 5 children with reception place offers for September 2026. 

Alternative local school places

There are lots of surplus places in the local area which can accommodate these children. There are currently 824 primary vacancies in Stretford schools.

There are 5 Trafford schools within 1.5 miles walking distance of St Teresa’s RC Primary School:

St Teresa’s RC Primary School is situated close to the Trafford-Manchester border. There are a further 5 Manchester schools within walking distance:

  • St John’s RC Primary School (0.9 miles)
  • Oswald Road Primary School (0.8 miles)
  • Manley Park Primary School (0.9 miles)
  • Our Lady’s RC Primary School (1.1 miles)
  • Chorlton CE Primary School (1.2 miles)

Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)

There is no specialist provision at St Teresa’s RC Primary School that is reserved for children with special educational needs.

There are 4 children on roll who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and a further 14 children who get SEND support.

We understand that children with SEND, or with other additional needs, may need extra support for a successful transition. 

Transition arrangements for EHCP children will be managed and supported by the SEND team of the child’s home local authority, with their families. All children with an EHCP will have an individual annual review.

We are confident that the needs of all SEND children can be met within other mainstream schools. Children who are currently being assessed will see no disruption to the assessment process.

Supporting transition

We are committed to supporting the wellbeing of children who need to move school and to minimise the impact of any transition.

A transition support group will be established, including an educational psychologist and admissions staff, to help families select schools and to support children through transitions. This group will work closely with school staff to make sure the transition is managed in a caring and considered way. 

Information on children’s needs and on strategies and interventions to support learning will be shared. Staff will be encouraged to discuss individual children as part of the transition process. 

Community impact

We recognise the closure of St Teresa’s RC Primary School will be deeply felt by the local community and the generations who have attended. 

For children, families and staff, the school is not just an educational setting but an important part of their lives and the local area. The closure of any school affects the wider community, and we understand the sense of loss and uncertainty this proposal creates.

St Teresa’s RC Primary School is 1 of 4 Catholic schools in the Stretford planning area, and 1 of 14 Catholic schools across Trafford as a whole. There are currently 106 vacant places in Catholic primary schools in Stretford and a total of 308 across Trafford. There are a further 2 Catholic primary schools located in Manchester local authority within 2 miles walking distance.

Therefore, the proposed closure will not impact the availability of Catholic school places in the area for parents who choose this option. 

Travel

There are lots of places at other schools in the local community. All children currently at St Teresa’s RC Primary School can be allocated a new school within a reasonable distance. This means travel distances will not significantly change, unless parents choose a place further away.  

Statutory process

For this proposal, Trafford Council is the proposer and the decision maker. There is a 4-stage statutory process to follow:

Stage 1 - Consultation

The period of consultation is from 19 May to 29 June 2026. All comments will be carefully considered and form part of the decision making about whether to progress the proposal to the next stage.

Stage 2 - Publication of a statutory notice

A statutory notice will be published and shared with families, staff, other schools and relevant authorities. A full proposal will be published at this stage.

Stage 3 - Representation

A period of 4 weeks for receiving formal comments or objections.

Stage 4 - Decision

The final decision on the proposal will be made by the Trafford Council Executive in September 2026.

Consultation

We are currently at stage 1. You can submit comments on the proposal on our engagement hub. All comments and questions we receive will be responded to as part of this process.