Extra £19 million to help ease the school place shortage in Bristol

Redland parents have welcomed news of a further £19 million funding boost to help tackle the primary school place shortage in Bristol.

Redland, home to some of the best schools in the city, is riddled with a shortage of school places for young children. We reported earlier this year how Councillor Fi Hance was calling for a new school to be built in the area to help address the problem.

And this week, Bristol City Council anmnounced it had secured a further £19 million funding to create more new primary places in the city. The confirmation of £19 million funding for the 2012-13 financial year follows a recent allocation of £18.3 million emergency funding from government this financial year, in recognition of the scale of the challenge Bristol faces in creating new primary places.

Bristol has seen one of the biggest increases in the school population anywhere in the country. Over the last four years, there has been a 20% rise in the number of children starting primary school.

This latest announcement means the council can accelerate plans for areas of the city where the need for new school places is particularly urgent. The allocation means building schemes can be brought forward and work phased more effectively to give best value for money.

Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Councillor Clare Campion-Smith, said: "This funding is excellent news for Bristol, giving us the financial security to make longer term plans to create much-needed extra primary places. Most parents tell me they want their children to attend a good local primary school. Our aim is therefore to ensure there are enough school places across the city for children to go to school in their local community. We already have plans in place to create an extra 370 reception places for next September and are looking at opportunities to support additional places for next school year and beyond.

She added: "Work to create new school places goes hand in hand with our drive to continue to raise standards at Bristol schools. Recently announced Key Stage 2 results confirm we are making good progress in raising attainment. We will continue to do everything we can to give Bristol children the best possible education."

Speaking earlier this month, Bristol West MP Stephen Williams said: "This is a growing problem nationwide but, outside London, Bristol is one of the worst-affected cities, partly because of its success as a prosperous economic centre that attracts young families who want good schools for their children. The government has at last recognised this and we hope for further backing in the years to come."

We spoke to one young mum from Redland, who has a three-year-old son who she fears may not be able to get a place in his local school. She said: "This is one of the biggest problems in Bristol and it's good to see it's not being ignored but I still worry it won't help me and my son."

The deadline for applying for primary school places for children due to start school in September 2012 is midnight on 15 January.

For more details and to apply online, visit the council website at www.bristol.gov.uk/schooladmissions