Dozens of sixth formers to be sent outside Bristol to tackle shortage of school places

Dozens of sixth formers will be relocated next year to tackle an urgent shortage of places for year seven students in Bristol.

Sixth form students from two schools will be sent to an existing post-16 facility in South Gloucestershire, under a deal negotiated by Bristol City Council.

The deal, approved by the ruling Labour group this week, will free up nearly 140 places for year seven students in east Bristol, where the shortage is most acute.

But the solution is a stop-gap for the hundreds of students affected, who must wait years for a permanent home while a new secondary school and a new sixth form facility is built.

A promised new secondary school for east Bristol, Oasis Academy Temple Quarter, has been hampered by years of delays and is not expected to open until 2023 at the earliest.

Bristol City Council had planned to spend £4.5m next year on providing temporary classrooms in existing schools for around 170 children in east central Bristol who are still without a year seven place from September 2021.

But now it has made it clear it intends to spend that money instead on a more permanent solution: supporting a bid by the Cabot Learning Federation (CLF) to build a new post-16 education facility on the site of the old fire station in Speedwell.

In exchange, and while it waits for the new facility to be built, CLF has agreed to create around 138 places for year seven students at three of its academies: City Academy in St George, Bristol Brunel Academy (BBA) in Speedwell and John Cabot Academy in Kingswood.

It will do this by using space within City Academy and relocating most of its sixth formers from BBA and John Cabot Academy to its post-16 academy in South Gloucestershire.

Dozens of sixth formers will be moved to mitigate a severe shortage of spaces for year sevens. Photo: Evoke Images

Sixth formers will no longer have to travel to the neighbouring authority once CLF builds its planned new post-16 facility on the site of the old Speedwell Fire Station next to the BBA.

The council has called the fix a “positive outcome”, but parents have expressed concerns about the quality of the education their children will receive.

Jenny Grinsted from BS5 Secondary Forum, which represents parents campaigning for the Oasis Academy Temple Quarter, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “In reality, this was the only possible solution to the immediate problem of 2021 secondary school places.

“While it’s a reasonable solution it will still result in very large intakes in some East Bristol schools, and we remain concerned about how quality of education for the children there will be affected. It is also important to remember that this situation should not have happened at all.

“Bristol City Council have known for over eight years that this problem was coming and yet failed to open Oasis Temple Quarter on time. While there have certainly been delays and failures in central government, you cannot put all the blame at their door.”

A CGI of Oasis Academy Temple Quarter from the Silverthorne Lane entrance. Image: Square Bay/Bristol City Council.

Campaigner Jen Smith has criticised the local authority for “pilfering” the £4.5m emergency funding from a budget for building projects for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Cabinet papers show the council has promised that the money – for the redevelopment of Claremont Special School and Hawking House – will be replaced next year.

Smith told council cabinet members on Tuesday, December 1: “It is essential to fund the project to provide these places in central east which will also create post-16 provision for the next predictable looming crisis, but we should be mindful of the fact that this is a cut to SEND provision yet again.

“Whilst it is hoped that the future basic needs grant will be awarded to replace this funding, there’s still the potential for this to fall short and SEND projects delayed.”

Cabinet member for education  Anna Keen said: “We are so pleased that this paper is able to provide such a positive outcome for the pupils in east Bristol and we’re really delighted that the post-16 offer in the area can be expanded which is a much needed improvement having been consulted on with all parties, including pupils, in the area.

“I also want to offer huge thanks to the Cabot Learning Federation who once again have demonstrated incredible partnership working and commitment to the city…so our appreciation is really to you on behalf of the children and families in this area who have now got security and quality education over the coming years.”

East Bristol’s catchment areas. Image: Bristol City Council

Speedwell Fire Station was bought by Bristol City Council for almost half a million pounds when it was closed by Avon Fire Brigade as an active fire station in 2015.

It was demolished in 2019. The deal will see the land transferred from the council to CLF under a 125-year lease.

Amanda Cameron is a local democracy reporter for Bristol.

Main photo: Evoke Images

Read more: East Bristol faces a shortfall of 170 secondary school places