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

Progress on fairer funding for local schools

Steve Brine has welcomed news that historic reforms that will bring an end to the unfairness in the school funding system have been outlined by the Secretary of State.   Mr Brine, a key member of f40, a group of MPs in Parliament campaigning to redress the unbalanced funding for schoolchildre

Steve Brine drops into Toynbee

Steve Brine visited the 'significantly improved' Toynbee on Friday 4th March to catch up with staff and students at the Chandler's Ford school.   The MP has been impressed by the strides taken by headteacher Matthew Longden and the team, and a recent 'Good' Ofsted report, published last Autum

Education Secretary visits Winchester

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan visited Westgate School and the University of Winchester on Thursday 21st January.   She came at the request of Winchester MP Steve Brine, who wanted to show her the new Lower School, which opened in the Autumn, and means Westgate is the first 'all-through' 4-

Steve Brine delighted at new fairer funding pledge for our schools

Steve Brine has warmly welcomed news that local schools will now receive a fairer funding deal following George Osborne's Autumn Statement.   The Winchester & Chandler's Ford MP has campaigned in both the last Parliament and this one for the deal, which would reduce variations in funding

Steve Brine interviewed by school radio station

Children at Otterbourne Church of England Primary School were delighted to invite Steve Brine to be interviewed by them as a guest on their school radio broadcast on Friday 23rd October. The school has its own radio equipment enabling children to create regular programmes that are broadcast within

MP speaks out again on term-time holidays

Steve Brine took part in a Parliamentary debate on Monday 26th October to push for a compromise on term-time holidays for young children in primary school.   The Winchester & Chandler's Ford MP has long-pushed for a relaxation to the rules which mean that parents can be fined for taking c

Otterbourne pupils visit Westminster

Steve Brine met up with over 60 Year Five children from Otterbourne Church of England Primary School on Monday 19th October.   The children took part in a session with the Education Service, where they learnt about the history and workings of Parliament, and they also took a tour of the Palac

MP speaks to St Bede future politicians

The next generation of politicians and voters were given a lesson in democracy from Winchester MP Steve Brine in the run up to their own school elections.   Mr Brine spoke to 120 pupils aged nine to eleven at St Bede CE Primary School about his work in Westminster and the role of MPs.

MP backs new proposals for summer-born children

Steve Brine highlighted parental choice and control as key reasons for backing moves to allow summer-born children to enter education in reception at the age of 5 in a late-night debate in the House of Commons on Monday 7th September.   The Winchester & Chandler's Ford MP, whose son Willi