Opening of new Bristol secondary school delayed yet again until at least 2026

The opening of a new secondary school in south Bristol has been delayed yet again. 

Oasis Academy Daventry Road is now not set to open in Knowle West until at least 2026, BristolWorld can reveal.  

The 900-place academy, announced in 2019, was originally due to open in 2023 but this had previously been delayed to 2024 and 2025.   

It is being built in place of a former community centre building, which is being demolished for the new school.   

An Oasis Community Learning spokesperson said: “The contractor for the academy’s permanent building has demolished the main structure on Daventry Road.  

“However, the scale of the additional asbestos and ground contamination has impacted the construction programme further and it won’t be possible to open the permanent building in September 2025. 

“We are working with the Department for Education to move into the new building as early as possible in 2026, which is the forecasted open date. 

“We appreciate this latest development is disappointing for the families and community the academy will serve. 

“Oasis is dedicated to ensuring Oasis Academy Daventry Road offers an exceptional education for local young people.”  

Sign up for our free newsletters now

Since September 2023, the school has been open on the temporary site of the playing fields of Oasis Academy John Williams in Hengrove, hosting year 7 students who will eventually move into the permanent site when it is completed.       

Originally due to be in place just one academic year, the temporary site was recently announced to be extended, to accommodate another year group of students starting September 2024.

The permanent school is being built in place of the former The Park Community Centre building, which was previously used as Merrywood School until 2000. 

The Park moved into a new building next to its former site in 2022, with its old home making way for what will be the first secondary school in the Knowle West area in more than 25 years.