AFTER recent reports of school funding cuts throughout Stroud District, with many having to consider staff redundancies and brace themselves for larger class sizes, the SNJ looks back a decade, when a Five Valleys school was enjoying increased pupil numbers.

In 2007 while pupil numbers across the country were falling, Nailsworth Primary School was bucking the admissions trend.

Staff said that although the school population was declining, they took on 35 children at the start of the autumn term.

Headteacher Chris Raymond said: “An estate agent told one of our governors recently that house prices are going up in Nailsworth because of the reputation of the school.

“We’ve invested in the arts and sport and our policy to involve parents as much as possible has paid dividends so far.”

The Office of National Statistics had published a report in which they blamed the decline in school admissions on a falling birth rate and lack of affordable housing for young families.

Mr Raymond predicted that pupil numbers would continue to rise due to new housing developments adjacent to the school in Nympsfield Road.