The proposed merger of the only school of no religious character in Hotwells, Bristol, with a Church of England school, has been rejected by the Department for Education (DfE). Humanists UK, which has supported the parent-led ‘Save Hotwells Primary School’ campaign, has welcomed this decision as a victory for the local community.
According to communication sent to parents by the Cathedral Schools Trust, the DfE has declined an application to amalgamate Hotwells Primary School with Cathedral Primary School. Cathedral Schools Trust (CST), which runs both schools, argued that the merger was needed due to falling pupil numbers. The plans provoked a wave of opposition from parents, pupils, and local residents, with almost 1,500 people signing a petition against the plan. A separate petition by parents of children at Cathedral Primary School also opposing the plans collected over 700 signatures.
Following the decision, the Save Hotwells Primary School campaign group said:
‘The Save Hotwells Primary group are delighted that the DfE have rejected the CST’s request to amalgamate the two schools. We hope that this encourages the Trust to now market this exceptional school where children are encouraged to be themselves and are educated and nurtured in equal measure.’
Humanists UK’s Education Campaigns Manager Lewis Young said:
‘The DfE’s decision to reject the proposed merger of Hotwells Primary and Cathedral Primary is a major victory for the local community and the Save Hotwells Primary School campaign group who were clear that this would have been the wrong decision for their children.
‘Simply defaulting to closing the school of no religious character should never be the answer to falling roll numbers across schools of different types. The school of no religious character is the only one that actually caters to everybody. We are delighted that the DfE has listened to their concerns and thrown out the plans by the Cathedral Schools Trust.’
Notes
For further comment or information, media should contact Humanists UK Director of Public Affairs and Policy Richy Thompson at press@humanists.uk or phone 0203 675 0959.
Read more about our work on state-funded faith schools.
Read our story on the campaign.
Read the Save Hotwells Primary School campaign statement.
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