Scrutiny to consider review of primary education

Release Date:  29-Aug-2008

Bristol City Council's Children's Services Scrutiny Commission is due to consider a report on primary education in the city when it meets on Monday 1 September, at 2pm.

The Primary Review gives a strategic view of overall plans for primary schools in Bristol.

The Children's Services Scrutiny Committee is being invited to give advice and guidance on the Primary Review to the council's cabinet, particularly on proposals that have received objections. Their comments will be presented to cabinet, to inform their decisions when they  meet on 25 September, to agree recommendations on the future of primary schools in the city.

Following major investment of £265 million in secondary school buildings in Bristol, which will see all secondaries in the city rebuilt, or significantly refurbished, by 2013, attention is turning to the primary sector.

The council has drawn up ambitious plans for renewing and rebuilding primary school buildings in the city. This could see 10 primary schools completely rebuilt, providing them with brand new buildings fit for teaching in the 21st century. A further 18 schools have been identified for refurbishment.

The report sets out responses to the council's consultation on plans for primary schools, which took place from 22 May to 18 July.  Overall, the council received 570 responses to its consultation on plans for schools in the city.

• 23 recommendations put forward received no objections
• 99 responses proposed alternative solutions
• 7 responses asked the council to move more quickly with plans
• 447 responses objected to proposals and some of these are included in petitions

Projects are divided into three phases, with several projects in the first phase already underway, and those in phase three subject to further review in 2011/12. Further consultation on individual projects will follow, as projects move forward.

To qualify for government funding to rebuild schools, the council has to meet the following criteria:

1. To have in place a long-term, city-wide strategic plan for primary provision
2. To reduce surplus primary school places below 10%
3. To improve value for money and offer economies of scale
4. To maximise the strengths of current provision and address under-performance

Creating more primary school places in central and eastern areas of the city, where there is currently a shortage of places, is also a priority.

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