South Gloucestershire’s Council has voted to allow the closure of the Grange School and Sports College in Kingswood, in order to make way for a new Studio School specialising in hi-tech engineering and creative media skills. The Grange has been in special measures since 2013. The decision to replace it with a studio school has been backed by Head Teachers across South Gloucestershire. 

Lib Dem Education spokesman, Ian Blair, said: “This action has been taken in the best interests of local children. The Grange has been struggling for some years, with poor grades, dilapidated buildings, and high staff turnover. Despite the best efforts of many teachers at the Grange, children are being let down by the current situation. I agree with head teachers that replacing the Grange with a new studio school is in the best interests of local children.”

“A new studio school will offer a new start for the Grange site – with renovated buildings and a revised curriculum offering better prospects for children. Just under 300 children currently attend the Grange. The admissions criteria for the new studio school are set to be the same for other South Gloucestershire secondaries, so it looks likely that all Grange pupils who wish to move on to the studio school will be able to do so.”