Spring is a magical time of year. Easter with its positive message (and its chocolate), the stunning oil seed rape fields surrounding us and some warm days with the promise of more to come. For many however, this month also brings news of school places offered - and some - not.
With a young family myself, I know well the anxiety of this time. That is why a huge focus of my first term as the local MP has been addressing the shortfall of good primary school places here.
Looking across my constituency as a whole it is a much improved picture with £10m of hard fought funding from Hampshire County Council bringing new places to the lower school at Westgate, Weeke, All Saints and St Peters to name a few.
This was vital investment to avoid a situation this September where total demand literally outstripped supply and children were turned away. But I want more and so do the parents I represent who will not be offered their first choice this year.
Top of that list is Colden Common where a bulge year and a growing village mean more than just a few are disappointed. Following a street surgery I held at the end of last year it was obvious something needs to done so it was pleasing to visit the school last week as a consultation begins on increased places for this September.
This is welcome, but we will need to go further and be ambitious to move beyond the planned 45 reception year entry. If there is a way to agree this with the school and crucially, to do so sustainably, we should.
Of course, if it were easy to plan for exactly the right number of places we wouldn’t have a problem and Hampshire have a fiendishly difficult job I do not envy in this respect. We need capacity in the system all over my constituency which works for existing parents, future parents and the individual schools and that is a goal I am committed to working towards.
I know a disappointing primary place offer can be such a worry to parents, especially where a sibling is already at one school and a split school-run seems a possibility from September. My advice is not to panic; accept the place you’ve been offered so that’s in the bag, get in your appeal now and remember things can often change as things shake down in the next few weeks. If you are stuck in this position, I will not be hanging around the school-gate promising a magic-wand but I would be happy to hear from you and see if my casework team can be of help.
More details of all my work – locally and in Westminster – via www.stevebrine.com or on 01962 791110.
Steve Brine MP
