HCCA is committed to sharing information and supporting local people in understanding the proposal. Below is the latest information we have received from Cathedral Schools Trust, information on the Save Hotwells Primary School Campaign and our initial email response to the consultation. We will update this page as things develop.
You can respond to the consultation below, the deadline has been extended to 8 August
https://www.hotwellsprimaryschool.org/amalgamation-consultation/
If you would like to find out more information about the Campaign you can do so here
https://savehotwellsprimary.org/
Email from CST Consultation - 23 June
Many thanks to those who have attended the consultation events about the proposed amalgamation of Hotwells Primary School and Cathedral Primary Schools and have provided feedback so far on the consultation.
It has been extremely helpful to listen and reflect on the comments and concerns raised and we appreciate your input into this process.
As a result of your feedback, Trustees have agreed to extend the consultation period until Friday 8th August 2025. In the meantime we are looking at ways to revise the proposal and further detail about this will be circulated as soon as possible. We will, of course, ensure that there are additional opportunities to discuss the revised proposal and will confirm arrangements for this in due course.
Best wishes,
The CST Team
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HCCA Chair's Response to Chair of Trustees - sent 13 June after public meeting.
Dear Sir David,
I am writing to you to express our community's concern and dismay over the proposals regarding Hotwells Primary School. I attended one of the public consultation events yesterday and it was clear at the event that there was a lot of confusion, anxiety and anger felt by both parents and the wider community.
As you are no doubt aware, Hotwells Primary School has been at the heart of the local community since it started. In the time that I have lived in the area (over 20 years), it has provided a unique and nurturing educational experience for so many, and been at the heart of our community.
At this point I would like to ask for two things on behalf of the community:
1) We would like to understand better how the Trust has reached its current decision. We understand there were other proposals discussed. It would be useful to know more details about them and why they did not work for you.
Please can you send me details. I'm happy to share them with others in our community.
2) The consultation period appears to have come very late in the process and is too short. Many expressed the view that the Trust had not done enough to let community stakeholders know what was happening. For example, I only heard about this two days ago. I urge you to extend the consultation period by a month. I think this would give us more time to understand your thinking and consider our options. It would also demonstrate a willingness to listen, which was not very evident at the meeting last night.
If you were to extend the consultation period we could also support you in reaching more members of the community via our newsletter and a slot at our AGM on 9 July, and, potentially a community meeting.
I look forward to your reply.
With Best Wishes
Rachel
