School due to close is ‘victim of gentrification and poor planning’

A primary school in Montpelier due to close is the “victim of gentrification and poor planning” according to one parent.

Despite more than 2,000 petitioning Bristol City Council to keep St Barnabas Primary School open, the cabinet has now signed off its closure later this summer.

The 150-year-old school is only a quarter full and its pupil numbers have drastically fallen over the last few years.

This means its funding has also been cut, leaving the governors late last year asking the council to consult parents on the school’s future.

Nine teachers and 13 support staff will be entered into the council’s redeployment scheme or made redundant.

Before approving the closure on Tuesday, the cabinet heard a petition signed by 2,495 people, and presented by Lotty Cronk whose child is in reception at the school.

Cronk said: “St Barnabas is unique with exceptional support for children with SEND and social, emotional and mental health needs, and vulnerable families, unrivalled outdoor spaces and a 150-year history at the heart of the local community. The availability of empty spaces in the area has been misrepresented.

“We have an autistic child in reception and there are no spaces at St Werburgh’s, Fairlawn, Sefton Park or Glenfrome in this year group. The schools with empty places are a considerable distance away and some, in my opinion, do not offer an acceptable level of educational care.

“We believe the proposed closure is short-sighted and that the consultation process has not been carried out fairly.

“St Barnabas is a victim of poor planning by the council and the gentrification of the local area. We believe the school closure will further disadvantage the already disadvantaged.”

Numbers started to fall after two primary schools opened nearby in recent years, and Ofsted found St Barnabas “required improvement” in 2017 — although parents said the school had become much better since then. St Barnabas is now due to close at the end of the current school year. Mayor Marvin Rees said a low birth rate meant there was less demand for primary school places across Bristol.

Rees said: “At St Barnabas the numbers have fallen to just over 50 pupils, when the school has capacity for 210. School budgets are mainly based on pupil numbers, and therefore funding has been an issue for the school which is why the governors have decided to recommend closure.

“We understand that this is a very emotive issue and don’t underestimate the challenges on children and families that this will bring. However, the governors have concluded that the school is not sustainable. The school and ourselves will support parents to find new school places.

“I’m very alive to the dangers of gentrification in an area that I used to live in and spent my childhood playing in.

“It looks incredibly different to what it was then, in many ways. We don’t underestimate how passionate people are about the future of the school, and our education team will work with parents to make sure people are getting a good future for their children.”

Alex Seabrook is a local democracy reporter for Bristol

Main photo: Mia Vines Booth

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