A NEW special school is opening this month in Coombe Dingle.
It has been built on the site of the former Sea Mills Infant School and will help address the shortage of places in Bristol for children with additional needs.
The school will be run by the North Star Academy Trust and will be for children aged seven to 16 who have social, emotional and mental health needs. It will open with 16 children in two Key Stage 2 classes and will grow to 85 pupils by September 2026.
The Department for Education and Bristol City Council have been working with the trust to develop North Star 265°.
The architects, DKA, say they have worked to integrate the two-storey building into the special character of the Sea Mills garden suburb conservation area site.
The school will have specialist teaching areas for food technology, construction skills, science and art, an all-weather pitch and a games court.
Headteacher Rob Skelton said the staff team was keen to get started.
“Our school has a unique role within education in helping our students to navigate towards their next step in education,” he said.
“Students will often arrive at our school having experienced challenges within learning environments and we aim to deliver a high-quality education that supports children who have been, or are at risk of, permanent exclusion from mainstream schools.
“Our role at NS265° is to offer a comprehensive alternative learning provision within Bristol which re-engages students in learning, helping them to experience success and to build on that to reinvigorate their ambitions. We provide a highly relevant curriculum which focuses on identifying where students need support and quickly putting the interventions in place to ensure children make accelerated progress.
“As well as this, many students need support to build effective relationships with peers and staff. Through our excellent facilities and staff, we provide flexible and bespoke provisions depending on students’ needs.”