Hampshire County Council have today (17 July) pledged a £10m investment in Winchester schools to address the crisis in primary provision.
Winchester MP Steve Brine has led a campaign on behalf of thousands of parents – and future parents - in the city after it emerged there was a deficit of around 70 places at Reception Year for the next three years. A number of temporary classrooms are coming online for September 2012 to cope with the new starters this Autumn, including at Harestock and Western Primary Schools.
He said earlier this year: "It is very clear, regardless of what happens on Barton Farm, that Winchester has an increasing problem with primary places. The County Council has a fiendishly difficult job in many respects but my post bag, my surgery and the number of temporary classrooms that are having to come online for September 2012 tell us there's a crisis looming."
A huge consultation exercise was launched by the county council in March 2012 to seek local views on three options to address the shortage. It closed in June 2012 pending a decision from lead member for Children's Services at the authority, Cllr Roy Perry.
Option A – would see a new all-through 4-16 school on the Westgate School site in Cheriton Road, Winchester making use of the current Rotherley Boarding House. The pre-school nursery on the same site would be unaffected.
Option B – would see the permanent expansion of existing primary schools in the Winchester area; All Saints in Highcliffe, Harestock Primary, St Peter's Catholic Primary, Western Primary and Winnall Primary.
Option C – invited alternative proposals for viable other solutions.
Hampshire County Council gave its view in response to the consultation at a special 'decision day' meeting in Winchester today about future primary provision in the city and the following was agreed:
- A new 4-16 all-through school on the Westgate site in Fulflood Winchester from September 2014
- The enlargement of Winnall Primary School (to a total of 210 places) and St Peter's Catholic Primary School (to a total of 420 places) from September 2014
- £400,000 will be made available to invest at All Saints Primary School in Highcliffe, Harestock Primary School and Western Primary School in Fulflood
- A total investment of £10.4m.
Speaking after the meeting, Steve Brine said: "We can't afford to lose sight of the reason we are at this juncture. Winchester has an acute crisis in primary provision and it is the school gate issue for thousands of my constituents. I have been clear from the start of this campaign that this places shortage will have far-reaching consequences for the city but we had to face it.
"We should remember today's decision will not, by the county's own admission, solve the problem indefinitely and I predict in time we will get option B, the permanent expansion of existing primaries, in addition to the all-through Westgate solution that will now seemingly proceed as Option A. For now though we need to make this work for Winchester and the thousands of people I represent who care about this issue.
"The county will need to progress the resultant catchment review with great care and sensitivity to guard against the unintended consequences it can throw up. And I will want reassurances that Winchester pupils outside of the new all-through school will not be disadvantaged as they take a different route through schooling in the city."
Mr Brine also made clear his dream of a free school in Winchester was very much alive as part of the long-term solution to increase the choice available to parents and the diversity of school provision in the city. He said an initial exploratory committee had met recently and would meet again during the Summer.
The MP also said he hoped the county council would engage 'creatively and genuinely' with residents and local councillors in the Fulflood area to manage sensitively the impact these new arrangements will have on those living near Westgate School.
Pictured; (top) Steve recently visited Harestock Primary School, and addressing a public meeting on primary school places at Westgate School
More information...
Steve's new school campaign website, containing links to a huge amount of information, is live at www.stevebrine.com/newschool.
Read Steve's detailed speech to the public meeting held in Winchester in May 2012 as part of the county council's consultation process – here.