Local school to finally get the repairs it needs after months of delay

A local school is finally getting the investment it needs to finish ongoing building works to provide places for SEND students, after construction has been stalled for months.

St Anne’s Infant School was left with scaffolding in the playground and parts of the building rendered unusable for teaching when it was discovered that more work was needed to be done to the roof than originally thought, during a planned conversion to expand its SEND provision. 

With the funding for the additional work not in place, the future of the school was left uncertain as the Council failed to communicate properly with the school.

Since being made aware of the issue in the spring, local Liberal Democrat Councillors Cllr Andrew Varney and Cllr Jos Clark have visited the school to see first-hand the impact the stalled construction was having on the children’s education. 

Stepping in, Cllr Clark put questions to City Hall bosses in July to urge the Council to communicate with the school and get the additional funding required in place.

Cllr Jos Clark (Liberal Democrat, Brislington West) said at the time:

“St Anne's Infants' School in Brislington West has significant development going on to expand its on-site SEND provision. This work is paid for by the Council, but all work has currently stopped and the school hasn't received any communication about when it will be restarted. 

“As ward Councillors, Cllr Varney and I have also enquired with the Council for more information on the situation, but we are yet to hear anything. As a result of the delays to the project, large parts of the school are unusable and SEND provision is having to be delivered 1-to-1, incurring additional costs.”

Cllr Clark also pushed the Council to provide an update and brief the school, as well as enquiring about whether the school shall be compensated for the costs incurred and the effect on the provision of children’s learning.

Cllr Andrew Varney (Liberal Democrat, Brislington West) said:

“The school has faced massive challenges with the ongoing work having stalled for months. They lost classroom space to teach, and so the amazing teachers there made the sacrifice to actually give up their staff room for the extra space in order to minimise the impact on children’s learning.

“School should be an uplifting place, where children go to be inspired and focused on a fulfilling education. Instead, the school has been left as a building site for months and months.

“That’s why I am so delighted that the plan for capital investment in the school has finally come forward. I am proud to support the proposals to fix the additional repairs, complete the conversion and provide the much-needed additional spaces for SEND students in Brislington West.”

Notes to Editor

• Papers for 16^th October 2025 meeting of Children and Young People Committee (Item 9): ModernGov - bristol.gov.uk

• Members forum excerpt from July 2025 ((Public Pack)Agenda Document for Member Forum - Questions & Statements from Councillors, 08/07/2025 16:30): 

  Question from Cllr Jos Clark:

  St Anne's Infants' School in Brislington West has significant development going on to expand its on-site SEND provision. This work is paid for by the Council, but all work has currently stopped and the school hasn't received any communication about when it will be restarted. As ward Councillors, Cllr Varney and I have also enquired with the Council for more information on the situation, but we are yet to hear anything. As a result of the delays to the project, large parts of the school are unusable and SEND provision is having to be delivered 1-to-1, incurring additional costs.

1. Please can we be updated with information on the project including current issues stalling progress and a timeline for when work will be restarted and finished, as well as a meeting with the school to brief them fully to be urgently scheduled. 
2. SEND provision is currently being negatively impacted because of the delays in the delivery of this project - will the school be compensated for the costs, and can we be reassured that the work will be completed without further disrupting the children's learning?

Written response:

1. The project commenced on site earlier this year. The scope included the refurbishment and renovation of the interior of the building. During the strip out of the building, the contractor reported that the roof required more extensive works than had originally been assessed. The main contract was paused to allow further investigation to be undertaken. The current timeframe for the additional roof works to be designed, funding confirmed, listed building consent secured and construction to be completed is December 2026. The school were briefed on the 2nd July 2025. 
2. There is no evidence to suggest that SEND provision is being negatively impacted. It is not believed that any compensation for costs is necessary. However, should the school which to make such a claim, supported by detailed evidence that can be validated, as an exceptional circumstance, then the Council will evaluate it and respond accordingly.