E-ACT confirmed for first Bristol primary academy

Education group, E-ACT, have been confirmed by the Department for Education as the sponsor for the new primary school academy in north-west Bristol, Bristol City Council has announced.

Opening in September on the site of the former St Ursula’s private school, the academy will initially provide 60 reception places, building to a 420-place school.

E-ACT is a national academy and free-school sponsor, responsible for transforming and improving academies and schools across England. This will be their first project in Bristol, but the education group has a presence in the West Country as the sponsor of an ‘all-age’ Dartmouth Academy in Devon which opened in September 2010.

A series of Cabinet decisions were made on 21st April to secure primary and secondary provision on the St Ursula’s site. Part of the arrangement includes providing places for children at the existing Oasis School Westbury which is currently operating on the site.

Local families have been asked to inform the council if they would be interested in applying for a place when reception places across the city were offered on 26 April.

Leader of Bristol City Council, Cllr Barbara Janke, said: “This announcement marks the final stage of the delivery of much-needed primary places for this part of Bristol. E-ACT is a welcome addition to the provision of education in Bristol and I’m sure parents will be pleased with this step forward.”

One of the first tasks for E-ACT will be to work with the local authority to confirm admission arrangements and start the process of appointing high quality staff to run the new school.

E-ACT director general, Sir Bruce Liddington, said: "We're delighted to be working with Bristol City Council on the development of this new primary academy. Our entire ethos is about creating outstanding schools and we're looking forward to working with parents and other partners to establish this excellent academy, ready to open in the new school year."