All posts in the topic Primary schools Review (especially Ashton Gate) (Short link)
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- There are 2 posts — by 2 authors — in this topic.
- Latest post made by Eric Booth at Jul 01 12:08 UTC
Hi folks, For anyone aware of and interested in the Council’s review of primary schools (the “Primary Review”), I’m keen to hear your thoughts. It makes proposals for the renovation of schools across Bristol, including amalgamation, federation, closure, refurbishment, and rebuild. The report is at: http://www.bristol-cyps.org.uk/policies/primary-review.html My main focus is on Ashton Gate Primary (I’m a parent governor and chair of the Finance and Buildings Committee),but I’m also interested in the reactions of the wider community to the proposals, and indeed in hearing from stakeholders in other neighbourhood schools. As you may have read, the proposal is to “rebuild” Ashton Gate in Phase 3 (i.e., not before 2013, subject to funding), possibly on the site that may be vacated by Bristol City FC. Failing that, presumably on the current site, since there doesn’t seem to be any other space available. (Hotwells is in a similar position, but with no neighbouring football club about to move!) This raises a number of points to consider: e.g., how would moving the school westwards a few blocks affect its constituency and community? In economic and environmental terms, what makes more sense? To rebuild from scratch, or to expand in situ? We have severe space constraints currently, with all permanent classrooms severely undersized. We have a precious bit of green space that parents are firmly against building on. But perhaps some imaginative engineering and innovative architecture could solve some of our problems, without the need to move site? But would that be feasible before 2013? In the shorter term, we badly need a new heating system and electrical system, but most of the funds normally available for such modernisation will be diverted to Phases 1 and 2 of the Review (i.e., to rebuild and refurbish more needy schools), meaning, possibly, another five years to wait? And even then, there is much uncertainty about funding for Phase 3, and nothing guaranteed about the outcome of Bristol City’s change of ground. The Council are, understandably, I suppose, not willing to commit a plan of action or money to Ashton Gate’s space problems until those uncertainties are resolved, and they have a firmer view of population growth in South Bristol. Does that make us an unreasonable hostage to uncertainty? What else? I’ll be communicating with parents next week to, hopefully, stimulate their thinking on the issues and prompt feedback on the consultation, either directly to the Council or through Governors (who meet to discuss this on the 16th July, the day before formal responses are due).
There are also concerns about other local schools in the review. Our focus is
mainly on Southville Primary which is also a victorian building with similarly
cramped classrooms but with even more restricted options for space and
expansion. The proposal is for there to be NO investment in the school in the
Primary Review, while Holy Cross on Dean Lane is down for expansion and Ashton
Gate rebuilt. This is bound to have an effect on how Southville Primary is
perceived in the coming years.
The overall picture for the area seems to be to provide for a slight increase
in numbers and to target the funds to specific needs. Inevitably this means
some will get overlooked while others will benefit (assuming the detailed
planning delivers what's needed).
Southville Primary governors are discussing this next week but I imagine they
might like to be in the position of Ashton Gate in thinking about how to manage
planned changes, rather than having to cope with changes happening around them.