South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) has wasted no time in getting to work on the installation of a new modular classroom block at Meadowbrook Primary School in Bradley Stoke. Less than 24 hours after the summer term ended, a large crane today began hoisting two temporary classrooms into position on the school’s playground.
As reported in The Journal earlier this year, the school’s governors have agreed to accommodate an additional 30 children in each of the 2013/14 and 2014/15 academic years, at the request of SGC, which needs to cope with a “bulge” of pupils in the local area.
The school’s roll is expected to grow to a total of 480 pupils by September 2014. When the “bulge” finally leaves in 2022, the school will return to its normal size of 420 places.
A further 30 primary school places (from September 2015) look set to be provided at a new primary academy on the site of nearby Bradley Stoke Community School, after funding for the project was confirmed by the government last week (read more in the August edition of the Bradley Stoke Journal magazine, out 3rd August).
A new commercially-run pre-school, catering for up to 30 children, is also due to open on the Meadowbrook site in the coming months. Planning permission for a pre-school portacabin was granted last May, despite objections being raised by ten local residents, concerned at the effect the development would have on inconsiderate parking and traffic congestion in Snowberry Close. Having been granted permission to erect the portacabin for three years, Abacus, the company behind the application, later successfully applied for an extension to ten years, arguing that this was necessary to make the venture financially viable. The latest news is that the pre-school will open in January 2014.
The primary School situation in Bradley stoke seems to be in hand. Someone now needs to look at the secondary education problem. With the only Secondary school fit to bursting, will the powers that be act, in order that the farming out of Bradley Stoke pupils to neighboring areas (Winterbourne, Thornbury etc) will cease.
Just a note to say that some of us chose to be farmed out to Winterbourne rather than joining the Dave Baker fan club. Different schools suit different kids.