Merger of two Bristol primary schools rejected

Hotwells Primary School is run by the Cathedral Schools Trust

The government has rejected plans to amalgamate two primary schools in Bristol.

The Cathedral Schools Trust had hoped to merge Hotwells Primary and Cathedral Primary School, a move it said would "maximise resources" and ensure children would receive the "best education possible".

Parents from a campaign group called Save Hotwells Primary said they were "delighted" with the ruling.

The trust's chiefs said the application to make the change was made following a period of extensive consultation and leaders would now work with the Department for Education (DfE) and other partners to decide what happens next.

"[We] remain committed to ensuring that the children in [our] care receive the best education possible," a trust spokesperson added.

It is not the first trust to consider merging schools amid Bristol's falling pupil numbers due to a drop in birth rate which is 30% down from 2012 to 2023, according to Bristol City Council.

Leaders from Save Hotwells Primary said the challenge was now to fill spaces in the "excellent school so that more families can benefit from this special place".

The group added: "We look forward to working with the trust to make sure that Hotwells Primary School can continue to thrive and serve the community for many years to come."

Although neither of the schools is governed by the council, the authority previously said it wanted to keep small schools open.