Cathedral

Cathedral Schools Trust have been given the green light to open a brand new secondary school for Bristol in September 2018. Please click on the CTS logo for more information. 

 September 2015

On the 2^nd September Mr Blundell and myself were invited to visit 10, Downing Street to meet David Cameron and Nicky Morgan. This was a reception for the heads of successful free schools. This event celebrated the work of free schools and was a great opportunity to meet other head teachers and hear about their journey so far.

I felt very proud to be representing our school and was able to share some lovely stories about the wonderful work at Cathedral Primary school. David Cameron came and chatted to me and I talked to him about how special it feels when children start their first day at school. He told me about his daughter Nancy’s first day at secondary school which was that very same day!

Neil Blundell said: “The best thing about the free school movement is the ability to put children first”.

Cathedral Primary School Chair of Governors Stephen Parsons has received his MBE from the Queen in an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle.

Mr Parsons, who is also Chair of Governors at Bristol Cathedral Choir School, was awarded the MBE “for services to education and the community” in the 2015 Queen’s New Year’s Honours.

“It was a great honour for me to be invested by the Queen with an MBE at Windsor Castle,” he said. “The Queen noticed my Cathedralians tie and particularly remarked upon it. This led in turn to a conversation about Bristol Cathedral Choir School, its achievements over the past seven years and the undoubted difference BCCS and our primary school, CPS, are both making to educating young people in Bristol.

“I was so pleased that the Cathedral Schools, their pupils, and staff were recognised by the Queen on this special day for me.”

Ofsted inspectors have declared Bristol’s Cathedral Primary School a good school with outstanding features – less than two years after it opened.

The free school, which opened in September 2013, was rated at least ‘good’ in all five inspection categories, and was praised as ‘outstanding’ for leadership & management and for the behaviour and safety of pupils.

Chair of Governors Stephen Parsons said: “We are delighted with the rigorous and robust inspection of CPS and the findings of the HMI Inspector, who complimented pupil behaviour and a genuine love of learning: it is no mean feat to achieve such a high rating as a brand new Primary School housed in temporary accommodation, and this report recognises that pupils, parents and staff alike already have a huge amount to be proud of.”

Head Teacher Sara Yarnold added: “The whole team have worked incredibly hard in setting up a very special school; we are delighted with the report. It has given us an opportunity to share the achievements of Cathedral Primary School. A huge ‘thank you’ goes to our wonderful families and their children, who are a pleasure to work with.”

Record numbers apply to Cathedral Primary School - again!

A record total of 237 parents applied for places at Bristol’s Cathedral Primary School for this September, according to new figures released today, as parents across the country hear whether they have been allocated their first choice of primary school.

The total marks a 17% increase in applications for Reception places at the free school, which opened in September 2013 and, together with neighbouring Bristol Cathedral Choir School, forms a family of schools offering education from 4–18 years-old.

Head Teacher Sara Yarnold said: “Last year, we were the most over-subscribed primary school in Bristol and one of the most over-subscribed free schools in the country – and this year the number of applications has risen strongly again!

“We are delighted that so many families wish to send their children here; we know they appreciate the strong all-round education we provide as well as our special emphasis on music. However, we fully understand that many parents who have been unsuccessful in gaining a place will inevitably be disappointed.

“The good news for future years is that the decision last month by Bristol City Council planners to approve our move into the lower floors of Bristol Central Library means that we can now start to expand to meet the demand from local families,” Mrs Yarnold said.

Cathedral Primary School welcomes approval for Bristol Central Library plan.

Cathedral Primary School has welcomed the decision by planners to give the go-ahead for its proposal to move into the storage floors of Bristol Central Library.

City councillors voted to approve the plan to convert the lower ground floor and basement of the library building into a home for Cathedral Primary School. Neither of the floors is open to the public.

Work can now begin to create 14 classrooms, a hall and offices, and to convert the library’s loading bay in College Square into a main entrance for the free school, which opened in September 2013. Cathedral Primary School is currently based temporarily in a Bristol Cathedral Choir School building just a few metres from the library.

Cathedral Primary School Chair of Governors, Stephen Parsons, said: “We are delighted that planning consent has now been granted. This is a pivotal moment in the history of our new primary school and I am sure generations of children to come will have cause to be grateful for the council’s vision and commitment to the future of education.

“We will now press ahead with creating a truly inspirational educational environment in one of Bristol’s great buildings. The 420 places provided will play a significant part in reducing this city’s shortage of primary school places.”

The primary school’s Executive Principal, Neil Blundell, said: “I am so delighted for our parents and children who can now look forward to a bright future in what will be a wonderful place to learn. This decision not only secures the future of the school, but also clears the way for us to work with the council to complete the transformation of College Square into a pedestrian and cyclist-friendly urban oasis.”

And Cathedral Primary School Head Teacher, Sara Yarnold, added: “The success of this planning application owes a great deal to teamwork and to the fantastic support of parents, who turned out in strength to represent the school at the planning committee. At last we can say confidently that our children can stay in College Square where they are happy and thriving and that they will be able to learn in a wonderful setting.”

Chair of Governors Stephen Parsons awarded an MBE in the New Year's Honours.

Stephen Parsons, who is Chair of Governors at both Bristol Cathedral Choir School and Cathedral Primary School, has been appointed MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours.

Congratulating him today, BCCS Principal Neil Blundell said the award was richly deserved, reflecting the many years of outstanding contributions he had made to the Cathedral schools.

In 2007-2008, Mr Parsons oversaw the complex process through which the fee-paying school, Bristol Cathedral School, was converted to a state Academy, which opened in September 2008 with the new name of Bristol Cathedral Choir School.

He also played a leadership role in the successful bid to establish Cathedral Primary School under the Government’s Free Schools programme and in its subsequent opening in September 2013.

Mr Blundell said: “Stephen has been involved with the school here for more than 50 years and we owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to him. Quite simply, without Stephen’s dedication and determination, the senior school would not be the success it is today. He played a key role in transforming it into an Academy and subsequently in bringing our major building programme to fruition.”