Fewer Children to Attend Bridgwater Primary School Due to Delayed Housing Developments

Bridgwater’s Hamp Infants and Nursery School will see fewer new pupils enrolling this September, a consequence of postponed housing developments and declining birth rates across Somerset, according to a Somerset Council official.

Located on Rhode Lane in the town’s southwest, the school sits between the ReCreation Community Hub and the recently developed Penlea House council flats. Despite its location near growing residential areas, the school’s Reception year admissions have been cut from 90 to 60, as confirmed by Somerset Council’s executive committee.

Councillor Diogo Rodrigues, leader of the Conservative opposition group and representative for the Bridgwater East and Bawdrip division, expressed concerns about the impact of continued housing expansion on local education infrastructure. He questioned the prudence of reducing school admissions amid ongoing large-scale housing developments within his constituency.

Responding to these concerns, the council explained that the decision reflects slower-than-anticipated housing growth on Bridgwater’s western side, combined with a county-wide decrease in birth rates. Mr. Rodrigues’ division is notably home to several major housing projects, including:

The nearly complete Strawberry Grange site by Countryside Partnerships, with 260 homes north of A372 Westonzoyland Road.
Barratt Homes’ revised proposals for the Folletts Farm site, which already has outline permission for 530 homes.
An active application for 750 homes near Strawberry Grange, featuring a community hub and a new primary school, with a planning decision expected later this year.

Phil Curd, the council’s head of education places, emphasized the council’s awareness of Bridgwater’s housebuilding surge and their proactive planning for new or expanded schools to accommodate future growth. However, the anticipated rapid development has been slower than projected, and the combined effect with falling birth rates has led to a surplus of school places. This September, Bridgwater will reportedly have 90 unfilled Reception places across its schools.

“We must manage these numbers carefully,” said Mr. Curd, “to avoid artificially low class sizes that can threaten a school’s viability. The reduced places are a temporary measure, allowing us to reintroduce capacity if pupil numbers rise.” He noted ongoing developments in Kingsdown and Bridgwater’s eastern green wedge as future considerations.

In November 2025, the council approved a £7.7 million budget for the construction of Wilstock Primary School on Cosmos Drive. This new facility will serve the Wilstock and Stockmoor developments and potentially a new 220-home project on Rhode Lane. Mr. Curd highlighted that this school is essential both to meet the needs of new residents and to accommodate shifting parental preferences for school choices.

He added, “Only two Bridgwater primary schools are currently oversubscribed, including Somerset Bridge Primary—many parents in Hamp are actually trying to access Somerset Bridge and are being redirected back to Hamp.”

Council leader Bill Revans acknowledged the challenges ahead: “We are mindful of government housing targets and the concerns raised by Councillor Mike Rigby. Our goal is to manage admissions carefully to avoid repeatedly adjusting capacity and having to build numerous new schools unnecessarily.”