I have been contacted by WSCC about the proposed new school on the Heathy Wood development in Copthorne.
As is often the case the plans for the development earmarked space for a new school, in this case a primary school.
However notwithstanding new housing and new families moving in WSCC believes that there are insufficient potential new pupils to make a new school viable especially as there are existing surplus primary school places in nearby schools.
Unfortunately we have also seen this relatively recently at Wickhurst Green (which followed additional investment in nearby Shelley Primary School). It is deeply disappointing for families to move into a new community expecting a school to be constructed at its heart to find that the pupil numbers don’t stack up.
Ultimately, notwithstanding the pace of development, there is currently a lower number of pupils requiring primary school places in our area which has created a surplus of places. Indeed for this reason Southwater Infants has consulted on reducing the number of pupils it is required to take.
In due course this is likely to feed through to Secondary School admissions although right now there is a national bulge in students entering secondary.
Whilst I am disappointed that the proposed mainstream school will not likely be going ahead at Heathy Wood, I would instead very much like for the land to be used for additional SEND provision - something which is hugely necessary across our area.
WSCC have asked for comments on their proposal and I would be very keen to hear from residents living at Heathy Wood. If you do have comments then please do email me on jeremy.quin.mp@parliament.uk
