Secondary schools in north Bristol

I am aware that for years now many parents in north Bristol have wanted a new secondary school.   Many parents also wish that that Redland Green school was not built where it is, and, on balance, I agree with that.

 

You may have seen recent news articles in the Bristol Evening Post about my suggestion that a good short-term solution would be for existing fee-paying schools to convert to state Academy schools.

 

This has already happened with Cathedral School and Colston Girls schools.

 

When most commentators are predicting massive cuts in public spending after the General Election I worry that investing up to £30 million to build a brand new secondary school would not be a priority.

 

Yet this recession also present opportunities.

 

Some private schools are struggling.  Parents are finding it harder to pay their fees.   What if the Government and Council worked together to bring one or more of these schools into the state sector?  They could be admitting pupils from as early as next year.

 

I believe we do need a brand new secondary school in north Bristol.  This year's shortage of primary school places could be a crisis in secondary school places in six or seven years time.

 

However this could be a good short-term solution in a time of recession.

Henbury School and the new Oasis Academy (formerly Portway) are improving very rapidly.  However for many parents living in, for example Westbury Park, these are several miles away.

Bristol has ten private schools, and I just do not think that is sustainable.  The costs of converting a school to an Academy would be far lower than the massive capital cost of building a brand new school, even if we could agree where it should be situated.

 

I would be very grateful for your thoughts on this.

 

Paul Harrod

Prospective Liberal Democrat MP, Bristol North West

paul@paulharrod.org.uk