New primary school to open in Littlehampton

Schoolsworks Community Primary School was one of 31 projects approved by Mr Cameron and should be open in September 2018.

Under the Academies Act 2010, all new schools have to be opened as academies or free schools.

Mr Cameron said free schools had been “at the heart of this government’s education reforms” and added: “More than 300 have been created since I became Prime Minister and 200 are set to open meaning tens of thousands more young people, many from disadvantaged areas, finally have a choice of a good education that helps them reach their full potential.”

Schoolsworks already runs River Beach and Rustington schools, as well as others in Selsey and Bognor Regis.

The new school, which is expected to be built to the north of the town, would initially cater for 60 Reception children plus 30 nursery places, rising to more than 480 places by the mid 2020s when the school would be full.

Chris Seaton, CEO of Schoolsworks, said: “We were overwhelmed with the support of the local community and prospective parents in the area for this school and we are glad that the plans have now received government approval.

“Schoolsworks received dozens of letters of support from local primary and secondary schools, from businesses, local politicians, churches and other community groups all of which recognise that there is a desperate need for more school places in Littlehampton, particularly with more housing developments under way.

“With over 380 signatures of support from parents of school-aged children, we are delighted that the model of school we have offered is clearly a good fit for the needs of this community and that this is recognised by the DfE.”

Sarah Pearson, interim director of New Schools Network, an independent charity that provides advice and resources for those interested in starting a free school, said: “The application process to set up a free school is extremely rigorous so it is a testament to Schoolsworks’ hard work that they have been approved to open.

“Yesterday’s announcement means the total number of free schools open or approved to open has now exceeded 450 – an incredible milestone, with more than 250,000 places now created by free schools.

“It is clear that the free schools programme is continuing apace, providing good new school places to local communities and proving increasingly popular with parents.”

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