Public consultation on 3,000 Bristol primary school places shortfall

A consultation on dealing with the demand for school places in Bristol has now opened for public opinion.

The Bristol’s School Organisation Strategy will be looking at how to cope with a potential shortfall of at least 3,000 primary school places by 2015.

There has been a 15 per cent rise in the number of reception aged children applying over the last three years.

Bristol City Council is having to spend more than £5 million to create an additional 479 places for the September intake 2011.

Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Councillor Clare Campion-Smith, said: “We have been working very closely with schools to plan how we are going to meet the need for significant numbers of new primary school places. Given the size of the task and the restrictions of many school sites, we are faced with a real challenge. Comments from residents across the city will help inform this work.

“It is also very important that we plan for the medium to long term, ensuring that the right number of places and appropriate facilities are in place for children as they move through primary school and on to secondary school. This strategy considers the need for school places at all levels and will be regularly updated to take into account future population changes. We are looking at a range of options to secure new school places, including the potential to create primary places at the former Fairfield School site.”

The consultation is available online at www.askbristol.com