Bristol’s only Islamic faith primary school will close at the end of term due to ‘ financial difficulties’

Bristol’s sole Islamic faith school has announced it will no longer provide primary education at the end of the current term. Andalusia Academy Bristol (AAB), in St Philips, will close its primary school from December 16, its Trustees have decided.

The independent school was founded by the Bristol Islamic Schools Trust (BIST) in 2005 but has faced financial difficulties in recent years. In January, the Department for Education warned AAB could face closure after a “significant decline in standards” led to its third consecutive inadequate Ofsted rating.

Around 180 pupils attend AAB from the ages of 5 to 16 with secondary education converted to girls-only five years ago, in 2017. Year-long provisions at the school are charged between £3,500 - £4,000.

In a statement, the school confirmed the decision to no longer provide primary-level education was made earlier this month. It read: “The school has ensured that pupils have achieved very good GCSE and SATS results over the years with many pupils going on to undergraduate and postgraduate study, achieving success in a range of disciplines including, medicine, dentistry, law, mathematics, politics and social work.

“In recent years the school has experienced financial difficulties with Trustees evaluating the school’s future on a number of occasions. Regrettably, on November 6, Trustees took the decision to close the Primary School at the end of term on December 16, 2022. The trustees would like to thank the community of Bristol, and those beyond, past and present who have supported the school over the years and wish our parents, staff and pupils every success in the future.”