“"CONTRACTORS have been appointed to build the new £16-million Yate International Academy."

This was a headline in Saturday's Evening Post. Perhaps Bristol Council Tax payers would prefer to pay that amount for a much needed secondary school in North Bristol than £2m bargain they got the former St Ursula's site for - so Richard, you are right, this is a no-brainer. Bristol City Council were looking at Stoke Lodge as a possible site for secondary provision and that would have cost them millions to build from scratch. You just cant please some people (who no doubt will be the first scrambling to get in the door when it becomes an Academy)

Oh, and I also endorse A Parent's comments about Robert - see you at school for first day of term tomorrow!”

“Firstly I thank you A parent for those compliment,ie idiot and moron,I would like to say to you that I am neither,I do not object to kids going to private schools for which I have no dout that some parents work very hard to keep them there (mind you unfortunetly some parents cannot get 1 job let alone 2 ) my objection to this school is that it was allowed to get into finacial difficulties and then the tax payers have to bail them out,it is my belief that if you want your child to carry on going to this school then you should find the money to keep it open.And please dont think that I am such a fool,as I have devoted almost 20 years in the state school system FREE of charge.
And to MB yes the kids are entiteld to state funded education at state run schools,as I said befofe I dont care a monkeys about private schools so long as they are payed for by the persons that use them.”

“In case anyone's missed the detail, this site has now been secured so that it can in the future provide free state education by way of an academy to the local community, just like any state school anywhere else.

Many of the children currently attending the school have special needs, and as stated before, parents on modest incomes make financial sacrifices as there is currently no state provision for their children. Doesn't sound like wealthy or privileged to me.

This was a very cost-effective acquisition by BCC. In helping to meet their obligation for state education in all areas, the low sum of money paid will help balance the books. Note that over £ 2 million was spent in the current year solely on emergency measures to provide primary places.

Those of us in this position are pleased that the school will serve the local community, and hope this piece of the jigsaw will help enhance education across Bristol.”

“Robert you complete idiot. you are clearly either jealous or prejudiced (or both!) not all people who pay for education are rich, or posh. Most scrimp and save and go without to put their childs education before everything else. I am sick of being called names because I pay for my child to attend a private school. I work hard at two jobs and make many sacrifices to keep my child here. You are a moron and probably the kind of person who would moan about people paying fees but then be the first banging on the door to get their kids into a private school which has just turned academy. Get lost, your views are not worth listening to!
Oh, and please learn to spell and punctuate properly!”

“@Robert- It's clearly passed you by that these parents are tax payers and are legally entitled to a state-funded education for their kids. In fact, the council are legally obliged to provide this. The fact that it is now available in their local area (like most other parts of the City), should be sometimg to be pleased about ang not a target for your bitter, class-war vitriol.”