Supporting schools and early years

Every school bar one in Steve Brine's Winchester & Chandler's Ford constituency is ranked 'Good' our 'Outstanding' by Ofsted, an impressive feat and testament to the hard work of local teachers, parents and pupils. Watch Steve make this point at PMQs.

Local MP Steve Brine made supporting schools one of his top priorities from the moment he was elected and one of his energetic campaigns during his first term was to lead calls for much needed new primary school places in Winchester. He keeps close tabs on the position in Chandler's Ford where school place planning must stay ahead of demand.

Conservative-led Hampshire County Council responded to that campaign with a £10m plan to the relief of families across the city. This brought 420 new primary places online for September 2014 and included expansions at St Peter's, All Saints and Weeke plus the creation of Hampshire's first 'all-through' school at The Westgate. With a nursery on-site, young people can now experience education on the Westgate site from 4-16.

Steve has also championed the move to Academy status (where driven by local parents and governing bodies) at Perins School in Alresford and Thornden in Chandler's Ford. Both school are Outstanding and hugely popular; the Alresford school now being part of a MAT (Multi Academy Trust) bringing the previously failing Sun Hill Juniors in the town under its' wing. Steve opposed his own Government's muted plans to force all schools to academise in 2016.

The MP regularly visits local schools, often taking part in Q&A sessions with children and hosts visits to Westminster's Education Centre. Email the team if you would like Steve to visit or find out more about Visiting Westminster.

Steve also serves as a Trustee on the University of Winchester Academy Trust which will run the new school at Kings Barton.

The constituency also has some world renowned schools in the private sector - Winchester College, Twyford School, Sherborne House, Princes' Mead and St Swithuns - and Steve Brine maintains good relationships with each of them.

Steve is also Chair of the influential All-Party Group for Children & Early Years in Parliament and campaigns to address the serious challenges facing this sector.

Pictured; Steve brought the Premier League trophy to Weeke School in Winchester as part of their Primary Stars programme, chatting with parents at Harestock Primary School, meeting pupils at Oliver's Battery Primary School and addressing a public meeting on the need for new school places at The Westgate School shortly after being elected in 2010.

See below Steve's strong track record of work in this area ...

News

MP presses again on business rates issue for nurseries

The Government has given an update on the progress made towards delivering the radical childcare reforms announced in the Chancellor’s spring statement. In March the Chancellor announced that from September 2025, working parents will be able to access 30 hours a week of childcare, for 38 weeks a ye

Chandler's Ford schools meeting

The Member of Parliament for Chandler's Ford has convened a meeting between headteachers of the local primary schools and officials at Hampshire County Council to discuss the head's perceived lack of strategic view of the impact of a falling roll in the area. Also covered my ongoing campaign a

Landmark sixth form report launched

Local MP, Steve Brine, has attended a reception in the Houses of Parliament hosted by the Sixth Form Colleges Association to launch their new collection of works : "Sixth Form Matters'. This new book, featuring contributors, including Dylan Wiliam and Andreas Schleicher, from the United States to N

A visit to Pilgrims School

Winchester MP, Steve Brine, paid a visit to The Pilgrims School today as part of his constituency Friday. He spent time with Acting Head, Alistair Duncan, and joined some of the boys for lunch to talk politics and parliament before taking a look around the school and seeing some of the music lesson

MP welcomes record funding for local schools

Steve Brine has welcomed extra funding from the Government, providing schools in Winchester and Chandler’s Ford with £2,716,697 in extra funding across this year and next for primary schools and secondary schools in England. Every state school will receive extra cash following the additional £2 bil

MP raises cost of ‘free’ school meals for infant children

Steve Brine MP has led a debate in the House of Commons on universal infant free school meals. The experienced MP for Winchester & Chandler's Ford was joined by a number of cross-party MPs who shared their thoughts, and those from their constituencies, on the important subject. Mr Brine s

MP Visits Merdon Junior School To Boost Kids' Online Safety

Steve Brine MP has visited Merdon Junior School in Chandler’s Ford to discuss online safety with the children in a special assembly. The event was hosted by Google as part of their Be Internet Legends programme, supporting children, families and schools across the country to stay safer online.

New Peter Symonds College building opened by ex-head

A sixth-form college in Winchester has marked the official opening of its new building with the former principal it is named after returning to cut the ribbon.  More than 80 guests attended the official opening of the Carville teaching facility at Peter Symonds College on Friday, Apr

End of term visit to Peter Symonds

Steve Brine visited Peter Symonds College today as the end of term loomed. The MP for Winchester & Chandler's Ford met up with Principal, Sara Russell, to understand planned future changes between BTEC and T-Levels and the impact that will have on his constituents.