Bristol free school set to open

The private St Ursula's School went into administration in 2010

A primary school and secondary free school are set to open in September after plans were approved by Bristol City Council's cabinet.

The private St Ursula's School went into administration in 2010 and the council spent £1.95m buying the site.

The Bristol Free School wanted to run it as a secondary school while the council wanted a primary school there.

Councillors have now proposed the secondary school be on a temporary site on the nearby Burghill Road for a year.

Free schools are a flagship part of the government's reforms to education in England. They allow groups of local parents, teachers or charities to establish their own school.

The school will be the first free school in the Bristol area.

One-year deal

After Bristol City Council bought the school site, in Westbury-on-Trym, Oasis Education was then given a one-year deal to run it as a primary school.

At a special council meeting of the Liberal Democrat cabinet, councillors agreed the secondary school would be on a temporary site in a building previously used by the Environment Agency and Defra on Burghill Road, Brentry, for one year.

They also decided to set up two primary reception classes at the former St Ursula's from September.

The recommendations are subject to approval by the secretary of state.

Councillors also agreed "in principle" to allow the former St Ursula's site to be used for secondary education from September next year, subject to planning permission being granted.