News / schools
Primary school moves step closer to being closed
A primary school now looks likely to be closed after which its pupils will join a nearby school.
But the site will remain open despite the closure.
Cathedral School Trust bosses told parents in a letter on Tuesday that they will be applying to the Department of Education for permission to amalgamate Hotwells Primary School and Cathedral Primary School as a single split-site school.
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It follows a consultation which saw anger from both sets of parents: from the Hotwells community who do not want their school to close; and many from Cathedral Primary School who are concerned that if their school grows larger, their children will no longer automatically be able to join Cathedral secondary school in Year 7.
If the application for a split-site school is approved, Hotwells Primary School will cease to exist.
But the youngest children at Cathedral Primary School will be taught on the current Hotwells site on Albermarle Row and the older children on the current Cathedral Primary School site off Anchor Road.
Some parents believe that the consultation was simply a box-ticking exercise with the newly announced decision a fait accompli.
A 12-ft warning sign remains from when the entrance to Cathedral Primary School used to be the loading bay for Bristol Central Library – photo: Martin Booth
“Whilst formally closing Hotwells School (sic), this proposal seeks to retain education in the Hotwells area, at a time of demographic change, and leads to a more sustainable future for the combined school,” the letter to parents said.
“We recognise that the proposed significant change has raised concerns in the community of both schools and the board have heard these in the responses to the consultation.
“Whilst the Cathedral Schools Trust consultation is now closed, we will be sharing additional information around the background to the Board’s decision in due course.
“We will also share how you can formally respond to the proposal as it comes to the DfE Regional Advisory Board, once it is confirmed as an agenda item for discussion.
“In acknowledgement of requests for information around future admissions arrangements for the schools, including BCCS, we will publish additional information over the coming weeks about the admissions consultations which would follow any DfE decision in favour of the proposal.”
The current site of Hotwells Primary School is likely to become an extension of Cathedral Primary School – photo: Martin Booth
Main photo: Martin Booth
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