News / Primary Schools
Multiple primary schools could close as per council’s draft strategy
Multiple primary schools across Bristol could close, following a council draft report that recommends reducing the “oversupply of primary school places”.
A draft report looking into Bristol City Council’s School Organisation Strategy has explained that even though closures may be the last resort in some cases, they may be “unavoidable”.
Over the years, the council report finds, Bristol has seen a decline in birth rates – with fewer children requiring Reception class places.
is needed now More than ever
According to the report, there were no surplus places at Wansdyke Primary School in 2024-2025 – photo: Wansdyke Primary School
To reduce the number of surplus places in schools, the report recommends reducing the forms of entry for schools across Bristol, which for the Hengrove and Whitchurch Park area could mean the closure of two of its three one-form-entry schools.
However, one of the area’s councillors believes there has been a “catastrophic miscalculation” of both the birth rates and required schools in Hengrove and Whitchurch Park.
Responding to the report, Lib Dem councillor Tim Kent said: “This council report presents a grave danger to our local schools. It recommends that two local forms be closed in our area. This most likely means we will lose two of our local primary schools.
“Their figures say that the number of children needing school places in our area will reduce over the coming years. This is a catastrophic miscalculation.”
………………..
Read more: Primary school could close
………………..
Currently, there are three one-form-entry schools serving the Hengrove and Whitchurch Park area – Wansdyke Primary School, Oasis Academy New Oak and St Bernadette’s. Each of these three schools, according to the data in the report, had very few or no surplus places in 2024-2025, which means a recommendation to reduce forms of entry could lead to their complete closure.
But Kent believes that this recommendation contradicts the report’s finding that “birth rates in the area have stabilised”, with the area’s population set to increase further, as per scheduled building plans for over 2,500 new homes.
He added: “The demand on our schools is only going to increase. We must keep our local schools open.
“To close them now would be a disservice to local families, and a betrayal of new ones hoping to move to the area.”
Backing Kent, fellow Lib Dem councillor and member of the council’s children and young people committee, Andrew Varney said: “Ensuring that we have school places where we need them, when we need them, is essential.
“Every child deserves the best possible start in life, and that shouldn’t be down to a postcode lottery.
“Families must have access to local school places and not be forced to go on lengthy school runs.”
A public consultation is open until September to gather views on the council’s draft School Organisation Strategy.
Bristol24/7 has contacted the council for comment.
Main photo: Unsplash
Read next:
- Pupils hold protest against proposed closure of their school
- School could reopen for children with SEND
- Taskforce to ask teenagers why they skip school
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
