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

Peter Symonds students taught by MP

MP Steve Brine was given the opportunity to teach a politics class at Peter Symonds College today. Steve was joined by politics teacher, Jo Thomas, as he took lower sixth students through subjects including the voting system used at UK general elections, the link between MP and constituency as well

St Peter’s visited by local MP

Winchester’s Member of Parliament linked up with the St Peter’s team for a tour around the school and a chance to meet some of the students and teachers. Steve Brine was joined by headteacher, Louise Buxton, and Chair of Governors, Tina Backhouse, as he caught up about experiences over the past yea

MP drops in to Oliver's Battery Primary School

Winchester MP Steve Brine paid a visit to Oliver’s Battery Primary and Nursery School to finally meet (in-person) headteacher Carly Redfern. The visit gave Steve a chance to meet the team and see the fully integrated pre-school at work. Steve says; “I’ve been eagerly waiting to get back to Oliver’

MP visits Twyford St Marys Primary School

Steve Brine linked up with new headteacher, Sophie Davies, as he visited Twyford St Marys Primary School this morning to meet the team and hear how the past year has affected staff and students. The MP spent time chatting with Sophie, who was previously Deputy Head at the school, before sitting dow

MP attends grand re-opening of Thornden Hall

Member of Parliament for Chandler's Ford, Steve Brine, joined a host of guests from the local community for the much awaited, grand re-opening of Thornden Hall at Thornden School. 3 years ago Thornden Hall, which first opened in 2003, suffered catastrophic structural damage and had to close, much t

MP visits Sparsholt College

Winchester and Chandler’s Ford MP, Steve Brine, visited Sparsholt College to hear from the Principal and senior staff about how they, and their students, have dealt with the past year. As the college looks towards their 125th anniversary, Principal Julie Milburn talk Steve through the future o

Get the country back to school

Steve Brine spoke in the House of Commons today, calling on the Prime Minister to ensure that schools return fully once the vaccination programme has covered those most vulnerable to the virus. The Winchester and Chandler’s Ford MP has been among MPs leading calls on the Government to get chil

Schools must re-open soon says MP

Our MP, Steve Brine, is leading calls in Parliament for the fully re-opening of schools. He is working with colleagues across the House of Commons and says; "My central thesis is that we’re seeing a tipping point right now among parents who see the superfast vaccine roll-out at the same time as the

MP responds as Vice Chancellor retirement announced

Professor Joy Carter will be retiring at the end of March after 15 successful years as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Winchester. Over this time, Professor Carter has overseen significant growth of the University with student numbers more than doubling, expansion of the course portfolio