A South Bristol school that closed amid parents’ anger and despair in 2021 after 121 years could reopen for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). St Pius X Catholic primary school in Withywood shut because of low pupil numbers after governors and the Diocese of Clifton decided it was “unviable” and was losing money.
Now, a planning application has been submitted to Bristol City Council by specialist independent SEND provider Outcomes First Group to repair the buildings, build a new multi-use games area (MUGA) and reopen it. In a letter to the local authority, planning consultants said: “The existing school building is in need of repair and upgrading to provide a good quality learning environment for future pupils.
“The limited changes to the building, coupled with the repairs, are assessed to positively contribute towards the general character of the building, area and streetscene.” Outcomes First Group uses innovative technology to teach and nurture neurodivergent youngsters, including an interactive robot and immersive classrooms.
It is asking for permission to create a 20m x 10m MUGA with a 3m-high mesh fencing, 2.4m fences on the school boundary and to separate the car park and existing hardstanding from the rest of the site, a brise soleil sun-breaker on the south of the main building, new steps and replacing doors and windows. Neither the proposed internal works, such as room reconfiguration, nor the use of the premises in Gatehouse Avenue as a school need planning consent.
The consultants said: “The school will be operated by Outcomes First Group, who provide specialist independent schools that are highly effective in supporting children with SEND. The school will focus on communication and interaction, cognition, learning, physical and/or sensory difficulties and social, emotional, and mental health difficulties, the aim being to provide appropriate learning opportunities so that all students can be the best they can be.
“Outcomes First Group has identified the former St Pius X school as an appropriate building to accommodate its school. Outcomes First Group supports children with various packages of education, therapy and care as required.”
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They said the plans would not affect neighbours’ amenity. The former governors announced in October 2020 that the Catholic school would close in August 2021, a decision ratified by Bristol City Council cabinet the following February and subsequently by the Department for Education.
Parents were left angry and had to find alternative schools for their children, while teachers were said to be in tears at the decision. St Pius X was a one-form entry school with room for 210 pupils, but at the time of the announcement it had only 92 children split into four classes. It was run by the council under the trusteeship of the diocese.