Clifton Diocese Opposes Closure of St Pius X Primary School
27 October 2008
Ian McNiff, Director of the Clifton Diocese Department for Schools and Colleges, has written to Councillor Helen Holland, Leader of Bristol City Council, to affirm the position of the Clifton Diocese with reference to the closure of St Pius X Catholic Primary School in Withywood.
Citing the “incredible improvements” by the school in the past two years, Ian McNiff has set out several further reasons why the diocese opposes the local authority’s proposal.
Ian McNiff said, “The Clifton Diocese is keen to develop its partnership with the local authority to improve provision for all our pupils in Bristol. Indeed our schools across the diocese have a track record of delivering high quality education.
“To close St Pius X School would expose a potential flaw in Bristol’s Primary Review proposals.
“The aim of any review is surely to overcome disadvantage, eradicate underachievement and promote high standards. It seems a contradiction and at best misguided to be closing a school that against all measures has made incredible improvements over the last two years. With secure and clear leadership the school has: increased its pupil numbers by over 50%, achieved its best ever SATs results – which are now better than the national average, and been designated a good (category 2) school by the local authority.
“To close St Pius X School against the wishes of the community and the diocese would undermine this important partnership and communicate mixed messages to the wider community that the local authority is against high standards.
“The local authority’s proposal that the closure of St Pius X School would lead to an expansion of Christ the King School in Knowle West is also flawed. Christ the King School is a highly successful school in an area of great need. It has been working very closely with St Pius X School. Both schools should continue to be a strong presence in two distinct areas of need. Christ the King School does not have sufficient space for its current number of pupils and the proposed expansion will only ensure there is sufficient space according to legal guidelines for the current number of pupils.”
The Bishop of Clifton, Right Reverend Declan Lang, said, “I know there is a real desire in the Catholic parish and wider locality for St Pius X School to remain open. The school provides a wonderful community in which children in Withywood can thrive. The staff, pupils and parents have worked hard and achieved remarkable improvements in the past few years.”
Ian McNiff, Director of the Clifton Diocese Department for Schools and Colleges, has written to Councillor Helen Holland, Leader of Bristol City Council, to affirm the position of the Clifton Diocese with reference to the closure of St Pius X Catholic Primary School in Withywood.
Citing the “incredible improvements” by the school in the past two years, Ian McNiff has set out several further reasons why the diocese opposes the local authority’s proposal.
Ian McNiff said, “The Clifton Diocese is keen to develop its partnership with the local authority to improve provision for all our pupils in Bristol. Indeed our schools across the diocese have a track record of delivering high quality education.
“To close St Pius X School would expose a potential flaw in Bristol’s Primary Review proposals.
“The aim of any review is surely to overcome disadvantage, eradicate underachievement and promote high standards. It seems a contradiction and at best misguided to be closing a school that against all measures has made incredible improvements over the last two years. With secure and clear leadership the school has: increased its pupil numbers by over 50%, achieved its best ever SATs results – which are now better than the national average, and been designated a good (category 2) school by the local authority.
“To close St Pius X School against the wishes of the community and the diocese would undermine this important partnership and communicate mixed messages to the wider community that the local authority is against high standards.
“The local authority’s proposal that the closure of St Pius X School would lead to an expansion of Christ the King School in Knowle West is also flawed. Christ the King School is a highly successful school in an area of great need. It has been working very closely with St Pius X School. Both schools should continue to be a strong presence in two distinct areas of need. Christ the King School does not have sufficient space for its current number of pupils and the proposed expansion will only ensure there is sufficient space according to legal guidelines for the current number of pupils.”
The Bishop of Clifton, Right Reverend Declan Lang, said, “I know there is a real desire in the Catholic parish and wider locality for St Pius X School to remain open. The school provides a wonderful community in which children in Withywood can thrive. The staff, pupils and parents have worked hard and achieved remarkable improvements in the past few years.”
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