The South Glos Post

Nearly 3,400 South Gloucestershire pupils are to benefit from a £1.5m funding boost.

Following analysis of the January 2011 annual school census, South Gloucestershire Council has now confirmed to schools how each of them are set to benefit from the Coalition Government’s flagship ‘pupil premium’, which aims to target extra resources at the most disadvantaged school children.

The ‘pupil premium’ was a key Conservative Party manifesto commitment in the May 2010 General Election.

There are three strands to the premium: the first is for children from a deprived background, and the second is for ‘Looked After Children’. For both of these, the premium is £430 each in 2011/12. The third premium is for children of armed service personnel, and this is worth £200 per service pupil.

The ‘pupil premium’ funding builds on the council’s recently-approved three-year £30m school buildings investment programme.

(more…)

Source: Conservative Group on South Gloucestershire Council

Parents with children due to start infant or primary school in September 2011 are reminded that application forms need to be submitted by 15th January 2011.

If your child was born between 1st September 2006 and 31st August 2007, s/he can start infant or primary school from September 2011.

If you are resident in South Gloucestershire, you can apply for a school place online at www.southglos.gov.uk/admissions.

The South Gloucestershire Admission to Schools booklet will help you to understand how the admission process works, how to apply and how to obtain help/advice.

(more…)

Source: South Gloucestershire Council

A launch event has been held to mark the start of work on a new school for pupils with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties (BESD) in South Gloucestershire.

The school will offer primary and secondary provision on two sites, with the celebration marking the start of work on the project at Mulberry Drive in Kingswood, which will provide a safe, nurturing environment for secondary pupils aged 11 to 16.

Sheila Cook, South Gloucestershire Council’s executive member for children and young people, said: “We identified the need to provide such a facility following a review of wider special educational needs provision across the authority, which highlighted a significant increase in the numbers of pupils with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties.

“It is great to see building work start because we have a duty to ensure all young people have the best start to life and this specially built school will offer a fantastic learning environment closer to pupils’ homes in which I am sure the they will flourish.”

She added: “Importantly, community use was included in the design from an early stage and so there is a dedicated community entrance to the hall, changing facilities and to the external games court.”

The 35 place secondary school, which is due to open in September next year, will provide modern, up-to-date general and specialist spaces internally and externally with sports and recreational facilities.

(more…)

Source: South Gloucestershire Council

A major remodelling of Pucklechurch CE VC primary school has started in the last few weeks after a long-running campaign by local councillor, Sandra Grant.

The phased £1.72m remodelling and extension scheme will see permanent fit for purpose accommodation provided at the village school with construction work due to be completed in November of next year.

The complex scheme involves the erection of three single storey extensions to form additional kitchen, classroom and administration space, including a new library. The construction of 2 access ramps, proposed landscaping and new netball court also form part of the scheme.

Work has been programmed to ensure that disruption to pupils is kept to an absolute minimum.

(more…)

Source: Conservative Group on South Gloucestershire Council