School closing after 74 years amid lower pupil numbers

The school will be closing at the end of this academic year

A primary school has announced it will be closing after 74 years of serving children across Bristol.

Gracefield Preparatory School, in Fishponds, will permanently close on 12 July.

New figures predict a worrying drop in the number of children applying for school places across the city.

Gracefield's current co-proprietor, Ivan Morgan, said: "Reducing numbers of pupils is a significant challenge facing the entire education sector."

Figures released by researchers at the Education Policy Institute (EPI) show that the number of primary school kids is predicted to drop by 6.24% over the next six years in Bristol.

Major policy challenges

"The Covid pandemic put an additional burden on school budgets, however I am proud that Gracefield remained open to pupils throughout, in addition to offering an excellent remote service to all its pupils," Mr Morgan.

Gracefield School currently has 65 pupils and 18 members of staff.

“We are working with local authorities and other independent schools so that parents can make the right choices for their children and we will be liaising with parents throughout the process," said co-proprietor Elizabeth Morgan.

"We are also fully committed to supporting our dedicated staff members during this period of transition and will do our utmost to assist them in securing new roles where they will continue to make a positive impact on the lives of young learners.”

It's an issue state schools are struggling with as well. The number of primary schools pupils in Bristol is projected to plunge from 411,000 to 371,000 before 2030, according to EPI.

Researcher at EPI, Robbie Cruikshanks, said: “The scale of change projected in the pupil population presents major policy challenges to future governments.

"Most school funding is allocated on a per-pupil basis. As a result, falling pupil numbers can mean lower budgets for schools whilst not lowering costs in the same way, given these are largely fixed."

Earlier this year, Bristol Steiner School (BSS), in Redland, announced it might have to close amid lower student numbers and the the cost-of-living crisis.

But thanks to a global fundraising effort, the school has now been saved.