News / KNowle West
Opening of ‘much-needed’ new secondary school delayed
The opening of a “much-needed” new secondary school in south Bristol has been pushed back until at least 2025.
Oasis Academy Daventry Road was due to open in place of a former community centre building in Knowle West in September 2024.
But education provider Oasis Community Learning says the demolition of the building, which was Merrywood School until becoming The Park Centre in 2000, has been delayed.
is needed now More than ever
Delays to the demolition of the former Park Centre building in Knowle West have held up construction of the new Oasis Academy Daventry Road – photo: Charlie Watts
A spokesperson told Bristol24/7: “The contractor for the academy’s permanent building on Daventry Road has found additional asbestos within the fabric of the existing buildings on site, as well as further ground contamination, which has impacted the demolition of the former Merrywood School.
“Further investigations will be required to assess the extent of the issues, but it won’t be possible to open the academy’s permanent building in September 2024.
“We appreciate this development is disappointing for the families and community the academy will serve.”
The school will, however, open in temporary accommodation on the playing fields of Oasis Academy John Williams in Hengrove from Wednesday.
Temporary buildings have been erected to house year seven students ahead of them moving to the permanent site when it is complete, but this was only supposed to be for a year.
The Oasis spokesperson added: “We are working with the DfE and Bristol City Council on finding the best possible solution for students, which includes looking at options to expand the temporary accommodation on the site at Oasis Academy John Williams.
“Oasis is dedicated to ensuring Oasis Academy Daventry Road offers an exceptional education for local young people and we are hopeful the academy’s permanent home will open in 2025.”
The new academy will first open in temporary accommodation in Hengrove – photo: Charlie Watts
The new 900-place school was originally due to open in September 2023 but was pushed back to 2024. This was slammed by Bristol South MP Karin Smyth and why the temporary site was set up.
The school is part of a multi-million pound redevelopment of The Park Centre site in Knowle West, which has also seen a new building for the community centre built next to where the school will be.
In Bristol, there has also been delays to the new Oasis Academy Temple Quarter, which is consequently opening temporarily at Oasis Academy Brislington from September.
There is a desperate shortage of year seven places in the city, with some schools asked to take extra pupils to meet the need.
Charlie Watts is reporting on Knowle West as part of Bristol24/7’s community reporter scheme, a project which aims to tell stories from areas of Bristol traditionally under-served by the mainstream media
Main photo: Wates Construction
Read next:
- New academy hit by delays gets planning boost
- First look at proposed new secondary school in south Bristol
- Plans approved for much-needed secondary school and hundreds of homes
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