Education

This week I will be attending a special event - the official opening and blessing of the new building at St Lawrence School, Hurstpierpoint, by the Bishop of Chichester.

New classrooms will support 90 pupils per year group, along with a library, hall and offices.

Five years ago, 15 children in the village did not get a place at the school.  I urged that it should expand to meet local demand, and in 2013 a two form entry became a three form entry, expanding the school from 420 places to 630 places.

It will be a pleasure once again to visit the school, which was rated outstanding by Ofsted and was the first primary school in West Sussex to receive Academy status, to see the new building and hear how the new arrangements are going.

Unfortunately the problem of over-subscribed primary schools has affected other villages, too, and it is not going away.  As younger parents move into our villages, and with new development, the pressures are only going to increase.

In Hassocks a temporary classroom was provided at the Infants School to meet local demand, and the Windmills Junior School has expanded.  Now the Infants School is once again oversubscribed, and at least 17 children in the village have not got places this September.

I met the parents of these children last week who are understandably - and rightly - very unhappy.  Once again I am giving local parents my full support.  There should be adequate school provision in big villages like Hassocks so that children do not have to travel outside their village and away from their friends.

I am meeting West Sussex County Council to discuss this issue shortly.  When new housing is being proposed for our villages the infrastructure must also be provided.