Temporary buildings solution for primary school places shortage

Temporary classrooms could be put in up to eight central Bristol schools in an effort to resolve the primary places crisis.

More than 300 families in the city are still waiting to hear where their four-year-olds will go in September.

Now cabinet councillor for children Peter Hammond has revealed that further talks will be held this week about the possibility of putting on extra reception classes for September.

The council admits it could have avoided a lot of the anger and anxiety caused to parents if it had concluded some of these discussions earlier.

The schools being considered are Little Mead, Henleaze Infants, Hannah More, Millpond, Cabot, Sefton Park , St Barnabas and Glenfrome. However, it is not yet certain that classrooms will go to all of these schools.

Mr Hammond and officers answered a set of questions put to them by the Post following a torrent of concerns shared by parents since they received letters earlier this month telling them they must wait two more months for school place offers.

Mr Hammond said: "These are reasonable questions. If I were in the situation of these families, I would be asking the same things.

"Some of this should have been made clear as part of the process.

"I have been disturbed at how people feel. I can well understand their dismay at how they perceive what has happened. There is a clear commitment that we will make sure every parent has a place for their youngster in September.

"We are taking measures to provide temporary accommodation to meet some of the clear shortage of spaces in those areas of Bristol where this has been identified and it is probable that under the next stage of the admissions process a number of these families will end up with one of their preferred schools.

"We have got in place a number of measures to ameliorate any difficulties anybody has got. I have asked that I be kept up to date on the progress of this.

"In the slightly longer term, our Primary Review proposals are a strategic approach to these issues."

The scale of the problem came to light after the Post disclosed that Bristol City Council had received 4,247 on-time applications for primary places but had only been able to make 3,940 offers of places at the end of January. Many parents with three schools close to their homes were told none had room for their children.

The council responded to concerns by saying suggested temporary classrooms would be installed at some primaries but some children might have to use public buses or shared transport to get to school.

Some families affected have formed a campaign group called B PAC (Bristol Primary Admissions Crisis).

Liz Haydon-Turner, 35, from the group, whose eldest son Samuel did not get in to any of the three schools near the family's home in Brynland Avenue, Bishopston – Bishop Road Ashley Down or Sefton Park – welcomed the latest moves.

The solicitor said: "We are delighted that the council said they can put on temporary classrooms – but what a shame the demand could not have been foreseen and sorted out sooner. We hope this can be turned into a long term solution of primary school places where they are needed."