Deaf News: Councillor says deaf school in Bristol is “being set up to fail”

This is Bristol website has reported how a Bristol city councillor has claimed that Elmfield School for the Deaf may be “being set up to fail” over its prospective move to a new site in the city.

Early discussions have taken place about co-locating the deaf school with a new primary school on the site of the former Fairfield Grammar School in Montpelier.

But a meeting of the city council’s children’s services scrutiny commission at the Council House heard that the school might not be able to move there until the 2015/6 academic year.

The commission’s chairman, councillor Alastair Watson, said other options should be explored with more rigour.

The website quotes Mr Watson as saying: “I worry that it leaves Elmfield in limbo again – we keep putting off decisions off. It seems like they are being set up to fail. They need co-location and need it as soon as possible and need the best suitable site.”

Earlier this year, the school was saved after a strong campaign by local people that reached the national press.

Read the full story here: http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Council-delay-indecision-setting-deaf-school-fail/story-16927587-detail/story.html

Photo: Ben Salter

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