Plans to close three small Bristol schools have moved a step closer after Bristol City Council's cabinet approved its revised Primary Review.

The proposals to shut St George's Church of England Primary in Brandon Hill, St Pius X Catholic Primary in Withywood and Stockwood Green Primary remain in the review, although they will be discussed by the full council next month before going back to the cabinet for a final decision.

The rest of the proposals for the city's 110 primary sector schools were approved by the Labour-run executive of Bristol City Council last night.

Cabinet councillor for children Peter Hammond said they had been altered considerably in the light of hundreds of comments from the public.

A number of schemes had been dropped, some had been brought forward, and plans for after 2011 deferred.

Councillor Hammond said he believed the Primary Review was welcomed by the majority of schools in Bristol.

Thirty one schemes were set to go ahead.

"We've listened and responded to what we've been asked to do. Seven recommendations are not being proceeded with as a result of consultation. We appear to have met concerns of both schools and local communities," he said.

But Mr Hammond conceded there was opposition to some proposals and proposed closures.

"If we go ahead (with shutting schools) it will be with an extremely heavy heart," he said.

The cabinet heard representations from St George's and Stockwood Green as well as a number from parents at Sefton Park, who are unhappy at plans to expand their primary school.

The council's Primary Review is designed to unlock government money for a £46 million rebuilding programme. It also aims to get rid of empty desks in some parts of the city and ensure there are enough places in other areas. To secure the funding, it has to have plans in place to get the surplus place figure below 10 per cent. Last year the overall figure was 12 per cent but there were 20 schools at 25 per cent or more. Another reason for the proposals is to drive up results.