South Gloucestershire Council is poised to consider a £13 million investment in a new primary school designed to serve the burgeoning population of north Yate, driven by the large-scale housing development known as Ladden Garden Village. If approved on May 12, construction could start by early 2027, with the school welcoming its first pupils between 2028 and 2029.
Yate, located 12 miles northeast of Bristol, is experiencing rapid growth due to thousands of new homes under development. To address the increasing demand for school places, the council’s cabinet will review a proposal to open a primary school initially accommodating one class per year group, with scope to expand to two classes per year as pupil numbers rise.
A council report highlights that while reception year places are currently sufficient through 2028, an anticipated shortage will emerge in Years 3 to 6 as more families settle in the area. “Ten out of twelve cohorts are expected to face shortages in junior year groups across the local planning area,” the report states.
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Further details on the school’s design and exact site are yet to be finalized, with a public consultation planned between November and January. Notably, developers behind the Ladden Garden Village are funding 75% of the school’s construction costs as part of a Section 106 agreement made in 2015 to support local infrastructure.
The council is mindful of potential delays that might necessitate temporary classrooms, recalling the ongoing challenges faced by Bristol’s Oasis Academy Temple Quarter secondary school, which opened in 2023 but continues to operate from temporary facilities while awaiting completion of its permanent buildings in 2027.
This new school forms part of a broader effort across South Gloucestershire to expand educational capacity amid rising population pressures. For example, Manorbrook Primary School in Thornbury was recently approved for a major expansion to double its size, reflecting growing concerns among councillors about historically insufficient pupil places in the district.