Go Ahead For Extra Places at Barton Hill Primary

Barton Hill Primary School is set to provide an extra 30 reception places from this September, Bristol City Council announced today.

This will take its admission number to 90 children, and the intention is this will be a permanent expansion of the school. An extra classroom will be provided on site and discussions are underway about the purchase of a further site nearby.

Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Councillor Clare Campion-Smith, said: “These 30 extra places will help ease the pressure on primary school places in East Bristol.  We are working with the school community to ensure the extra provision is ready for the new school year and also working to provide additional accommodation to secure the expansion as a permanent arrangement in the future.”

Head teacher, Simon Robinson, said: “We are delighted to be able to expand the school further and offer more families a place at their local school.

“We have been very anxious about the fact that so many children may well not have been educated at their local school, so we are really pleased Bristol City Council has responded so positively and that we are able to work together to resolve this very worrying issue for parents and carers.”

Bristol has seen one of the biggest increases in the school population anywhere in the country. Over the last six years, there has been a 23% rise in the number of children starting primary school in the city.

The council is investing £14 million to create an extra 300 reception places for September and work continues to support additional places for next school year and beyond. Overall, the council’s cabinet has agreed investment plans totalling £58m for expanding, refurbishing and rebuilding primary schools in the city.