Help us preserve our high-achieving, supportive, community-driven school
Cathedral Schools Trust claims Hotwells Primary is no longer viable and must either close or be merged into Cathedral Primary School. This would end 100 years of Hotwells Primary as we know it, removing a vital secular education option from our community.
Tuesday, July 1, 2025, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: Upstairs @ The Pumphouse, Hotwells
Cathedral Schools Trust claims Hotwells Primary is no longer viable and must either close or be merged into Cathedral Primary School (CPS) - taking on its name, uniform, and Church of England designation. They plan to have early years and key stage 1 on the former Hotwells site and key stage 2 at the current CPS site.
Here is the proposal they put out for consultation and the related faq.
In reality, this is not a merger but a takeover that would end 100 years of Hotwells Primary as we know it. Two of the three objectives driving the consultation are not even related to Hotwells: getting more space for Cathedral Primary and helping Bristol reduce primary admission numbers across the city.
The Trust has failed to provide convincing evidence to justify such a drastic decision. Hotwells has had some difficult years with lower pupil numbers, but the Trust's claim that Hotwells is financially unviable is unconvincing. The situation is improving, despite the Trust having made little effort to support or invest in making the school sustainable. Many in the local area are unaware of the school, highlighting the lack of marketing in recent years, suggesting opportunity for greater numbers.
Hotwells is a high-performing, inclusive school that plays a vital role in the local community and provides the kind of nurturing environment that many children simply won't find elsewhere. Whether the current proposal is accepted or not, the Trust's intention remains: to shut down Hotwells. This move is not in the best interest of the children, families, or the wider community.
Hotwells provides a uniquely nurturing environment rooted in its small size, non-uniform, and inter-year support. Academically it exceeds the national SATS exceeds-expectations by 10-20% placing the school among Bristol's top performers.
Ofsted rated Hotwells "Good" in September 2022, praising its inclusive, nurturing ethos where "pupils feel safe and well looked after" and "enjoy coming to school and take pride in their work". They also said that parental feedback was the most overwhelmingly positive they had ever seen, testament to the loyalty it inspires.
For many children, especially those who struggle in larger, more formal settings, Hotwells offers the individual attention and emotional safety they need to thrive. This kind of care and level of achievement is much harder to replicate in a larger school.
Hotwells is the only non-religious school in the ward and many families chose it for exactly that reason. The proposed merger would impose a Church of England ethos, undermining the school's inclusive identity and alienating families who value secular education.
Hotwells is a vital part of local life. From the West Bristol Arts Trail to the Hotwells Panto and the intergenerational lunch club, the school plays a key role in bringing people together across age and background. Losing it would mean severing these long-standing community ties.
Children walk to Hotwells. They visit friends, grow in confidence, and develop independence in a safe and familiar environment. Parents know each other, support one another, and build strong informal networks.
Whether the school is closed outright or merged into a split-site arrangement, many children will face longer journeys and risk being separated from their peers. Families who currently walk will be forced to drive, increasing traffic and congestion in the city centre at an already busy time, undermining Bristol's sustainable transport goals. The close-knit, walkable community that Hotwells fosters will be lost.
Many current pupils live in the local flats. Over 1,000 new homes are planned in the Harbourside area. Closing Hotwells now would leave this growing population underserved and force more families to travel further afield. Keeping Hotwells open is essential for future school place planning and a sustainable, walkable community. The merger does not guarantee the number of places reserved for the local community in the new school.
The consultation process surrounding the proposed closure and merger of Hotwells Primary is deeply inadequate. With only five weeks of engagement, well short of best-practice standards and poorly- timed, the consultation has not allowed families or the wider community the time or clarity needed to respond meaningfully. Despite The Trust working on these plans for over two years, parents were given very limited notice, and key decisions appear to have been made in advance.
The Cathedral Schools Trust has made no effort to let the local community know about this change that will have an impact on the area. This lack of transparency and genuine engagement raises serious concerns about the integrity of the decision-making process.
The Trust have not published information about why alternatives were rejected and do not have financial modelling that a merged split-site school would be viable, nor the percentage of places that would be reserved for the local community.
We call on Cathedral Schools Trust, the Department for Education, and all decision-makers to protect this high-performing, community-first school. We demand the following:
Our children deserve more than a cost-cutting exercise - they deserve the proven, nurturing education that Hotwells provides.
While the trust may not care about personal stories, we do, and so does the press
So if you have memories or photos of Hotwells Primary that you are happy to share with us to help publicise this campaign, please post on the board below.
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