A boom in births a decade ago has left Bristol high schools too full and primary schools too empty. A bulge in pupil numbers is now working its way through school year groups, with one primary school due to close and two new high schools due to open from September.
City Hall chiefs are now grappling with how to change the capacity of schools across Bristol to cope with the flux in demand. About three in four pupils starting Year 7 this September were offered their first preference, less than last year, with pressure higher in north Bristol.
Pupils not getting their first choice of high school can result in many knock-on problems. Details of the challenges facing education bosses were revealed in a recent report to the council’s schools forum, which will meet on Tuesday, May 23, to discuss the issues.
