A free school could be opened in unused office buildings in Portishead in an attempt to solve the shortage of class places in the growing town.
The Village Quarter Parents Action Group has selected educational visionary Marcus Orlovsky to push forward plans to open a free school for up to 240 students by September 2014.
One of the locations being deliberated is unused office blocks in Newfoundland Way, however other sites are also being considered.
Vacant Portishead offices could house a new school
A tender for the free school is being drawn up by Mr Orlovsky, his team and parents from the action group which needs to be submitted by the Education Funding Agency (EFA) BY January 4.
If accepted, funding for the free school would have to be sought from the Government and the new school could open by September 2014.
A trust would be set up to run and govern the school, agree the curriculum and employ staff.
Mr Orlovsky, a director and founder member of educational change consultants Bryanston Square, was one of three groups to bid to open a free school in the town.
Bristol Free Schools Trust and the Diocese of Bath and Wells also put forward tenders to the action group.
Mr Orlovsky said: “The parents we spoke to seemed to like our approach to setting up a free school.
“We are delighted the parents and others, including the local secondary school and a number of primary schools in the area, are in favour of us driving this forward. However there is a long way still to go and a lot of hurdles to jump through.”
The move to look at opening a free school in Portishead follows concern about the lack of class places.
This year alone over 20 students did not get a place at a primary school in the town, with some students having to travel long distances to class in Clevedon or Pill.
If the free school gets the go ahead, it would be the first school of its kind to open in North Somerset.
The Village Quarter Parents Action Group was established by parents to explore ways of providing additional class places in the town.
Laura Haseldine, spokeswoman for Action group said: “We felt the proposal by Mr Orlovsky was the most inspiring and that it would provide top class education for our children.
“Following our meetings with the three different organisations, 88 per cent of parents were in favour of the proposals by Mr Orlovsky and his group. We are now continuing to gather support for the proposal by collecting names and details of those parents who wish their children to attend this school.”
North Somerset Council is looking at the probability of expanding St Peter’s Primary School at Hallets Way from a 420 place to a 630 place primary.
The council has set up two committees to look at the practicability of expanding St Peter’s School into an all through primary. It has also allocated £400,000 to look at ways of providing extra school places in the town for September 2013.
Portishead is thought to be the fastest growing town in Europe and when expansions are complete will have a population of around 30,000.
Do you think this is an imaginative way to find tenants for unoccupied commercial property? Have vacant offices, shops or warehouses been put to similar community uses in your area? Let us know below.
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