Fairfield School will be rebuilt on the site of St Thomas More's Catholic school in Horfield.

The council is investing £15m of its own money in the project to see the number of available Fairfield places double to over 1,000.

Pupils entering the new school in September 2004 are likely to be the first year group at the new site.

Parents and pupils can be reassured that any changes over the coming months will be made with minimal upheaval

Peter Hammond Councillor

Peter Hammond, deputy leader of the council, said the St Thomas site offered the most potential for rebuilding Fairfield.

He said the new school would also benefit from having playing fields adjacent to it.

Mr Hammond added: "Parents and pupils can be reassured that any changes over the coming months will be made with minimal upheaval."

The council will hold a consultation exercise over its plans and it will re-examine the school's intake area after the relocation.

The other site considered by the council - the Brunel campus of City of Bristol College - was rejected because of its "prohibitive" cost and listed building status.

The owners of St Thomas More school now plan to build a joint Catholic and Church of England School in South Gloucestershire.