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

Harestock children visit Parliament

Steve Brine welcomed a group of Year 6 children to Parliament on Tuesday 8th January. They took a tour of Parliament, which including watching part of a debate on Brexit, before meeting their MP for a special Q&A session. Headteacher Jackie Sankey said: “It was a fantastic experience for the c

Thornden visit for MP

Thornden Secondary School in Chandler's Ford is one of the best schools in the country and it had a visit from local MP, Steve Brine, this morning who wanted to see for himself its progress. Mr Brine met with Headteacher Su Whelan and visited large parts of the campus meeting students and staff and

School council on the programme as MP visits Itchen Abbas

Local MP Steve Brine paid a visit to Itchen Abbas Primary School today to chat with the Headteacher and spend time meeting the school council. The school, based in Itchen Abbas between Winchester and Alresford, is one of the smallest schools in Steve's constituency and the MP wanted to make ti

Physiotherapy launch brings University in the City

The University of Winchester is developing new degree programmes in the healthcare arena as part of its new Health & Wellbeing Faculty and the first of these - Physiotherapy - opened today. The degree course will be taught at a brand new facility on the High Street (above The Ivy Brasserie

MP visits Perins in Alresford

Steve Brine dropped into Perins school in Alresford on Friday 22nd June and student numbers, budgets and safe crossings were on the agenda. The Winchester & Alresford MP met with Executive Headteacher, Steve Jones, alongside Chair of Trustees, Alison Mayne, and was updated on the growth of the

Steve Brine visits Western Primary School

Steve Brine dropped into Western Primary School, in the heart of Fulflood, on Friday 8th June. The Winchester MP discussed school funding and admissions, before taking a look around and meeting a number of staff and children. Given his role in Government as the Public Health Minister, he was espec

MP drops into Westgate

Steve Brine visited Westgate on Friday 8th June to catch up with new headteacher Fae Dean. The Winchester MP had a look at the nursery, which he opened (with Peppa Pig!) in 2014, and was also shown around the new lower school, which is now filled up until Year 3, and parts of the upper school. Spe

Steve brings Children's Minister to City

Lanterns Nursery School and Extended Services had a visit from not one but two Government Ministers on Thursday 24th May. Local MP Steve Brine, Minister for Public Health and Nadhim Zahawi the Minister for Children visited the nursery school located on Bereweeke Road in the heart of the City.

All Saints hit Parliament

Steve Brine met a lively group of children from All Saints school as they visited the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday 22nd May. The children took a tour of the ancient palace, before spending time in Parliament's popular Education Centre, with a supporting group of teachers, assistants and grandpar

Weeke Primary School set a county first

Weeke Primary school in Winchester have worked in collaboration with Talking Outcomes, a local independent Speech & Language Consultancy, for over a year to become the first school in Hampshire to achieve this prestigious award, which is valid for 3 years. Elkan have recognised that the school