ASHLEY Down Primary School celebrated the opening of its new buildings on the Brunel Field site.

Children and families joined council leader Barbara Janke and local Lib Dem councillor Bev Knott as they cut a ribbon to mark the official launch.

The school was built to help meet the increasing demand for primary school places –but it is already too small.

Over the last three years, there has been a 15 per cent rise in the number of children starting at reception classes in Bristol and this increase is expected to continue.

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Now Bristol City Council is planning to double the size of the school, which was built by construction firm Skanska through the Bristol Local Education Partnership.

The first class of four-year-olds started at the school last September. For the first two terms, lessons were held in an adapted education room at the neighbouring Gloucestershire County Cricket Ground. School staff and children moved into their new classroom for the first time in January.

Mrs Janke said: "There was an urgent need to create new primary school places for local families in this part of Bristol. Pressing ahead with new school buildings on the Brunel Field site gave us an excellent opportunity to meet this need. It is wonderful to join children in their new school, to see them learning, playing and enjoying school."

Head teacher of Ashley Down Primary School, Laurence Pitt, said: "From talking to parents, I know how important it is for them to be able to send their child to a local school."

Mr Knott said: "Bishopston is one of the fastest growing and most populous areas in Bristol with many young families.

"At last they have a local school for young children who have been increasingly at risk of starting their first days at school far from where they live," he added.