As the lead member for children's services, I would like to make some comments about the history of the new school proposed for Bishopston area.

The new school was first proposed by the Liberal Democrat administration of 2005 to 2007 and had reached an advanced stage in its feasibility study. At that point, the council would have appointed a head teacher and staff, assembled a governing body and got on with the job. That school would have been opened this September and been teaching its first group of children.

When the Labour administration was put in control in 2007, they halted the plans for reasons which are still not clear.

Also in 2007, new legislation was introduced. The Government now requires a competition process so other organisations (faith organisations, academy sponsors, trusts, the local authority and so on) may apply to run the school. This competition is both costly and lengthy and there are also many educational advantages to our decision that a successful local school takes the new facility under its wing in the first years of its life. The intention, as in early 2007, is it will eventually be a stand-alone school offering much-needed places. The frustration lies in the hurdles put in the way by Government.

I am immensely grateful to all the schools and governors for the decisions they made in spring this year to host extra reception classes. This gave children in various parts of the city the opportunity of school places close to their homes. We now look to collaborative working with the council and Bristol primary schools to fulfil our promise that all on-time applicants will be offered a place in January.

Councillor Clare Campion-Smith,

Liberal Democrat,

Henleaze.