MP's question time at St Lawrence School

Arundel & South Downs MP Nick Herbert faced 'question time' at St Lawrence Primary School in Hurstpierpoint last week.

Mr Herbert was quizzed by Year 6 classes during his visit to the school on Friday 25 October.

The pupils demonstrated that they had researched their MP and local issues, and they asked him some tough questions.  Matters of concern included local housing development and the upgrade of the A27.  They also asked him about his work as an MP and Minister, and about his work with global tuberculosis charities.

The children also made suggestions as to how the MP's website could be improved.

Mr Herbert was invited to St Lawrence after it became the first primary school in West Sussex to receive academy status, and to see how the school is managing an increase in the number of pupils in the reception and year one classes.

Following concerns from local parents when the school became oversubscribed, the MP took up the issue with the County Council and the school.  After careful consideration, the school agreed to move to a three form entry at the beginning of the current academic year.

Mr Herbert was met by Headteacher Paul Dyer, Deputy Headteacher Emma Dickason and Chairman of Governors Tim Moulds.  They gave the MP a tour of the school to show him how they are currently accommodating the extra children, and   showed him the plans for new building works which begin during the Autumn half term break and are expected to be complete by the end of next year.  The new buildings will provide classrooms, a new library, a drama area and other activity spaces.

St Lawrence was rated an 'outstanding' school following its Ofsted inspection in 2007.

Nick Herbert MP said: "It was a pleasure to visit St Lawrence again and to see how the school is expanding.  It has meant a great deal to local parents that they are able to get their children into this popular village school.

"I enjoyed being quizzed by the Year 6 children, and the questions were both challenging and impressively well researched.  It was also very useful to receive suggestions about how my website could be improved!"

ENDS

Notes

1.    More information about St Lawrence school can be found on their website http://www.st-lawrence.w-sussex.sch.uk/.

2.    To read Nick Herbert's constituency news release on ‘Shortage of places in village schools' please follow the link http://tinyurl.com/q6lfj67.