Call for clarity on future of primary school

Tipton St John Primary School needs to be rebuilt following repeated flooding

AN MP is calling for clarification on the future of a Devon primary school amid the government’s spending review.

Tipton St John Primary School was in the previous government's priority schools’ rebuilding programme.

The Department for Education (DfE) had agreed to fund the construction of the new building, with Devon County Council providing the land and paying for associated work such as road access.

But the county council is now seeking reassurance the scheme will not be axed as part of Labour's plans to reduce a national funding gap.

A council spokesperson said: "With the new government still identifying its priorities, we are not yet clear what its intention is with the priority schools rebuilding programme."

Tipton St John Primary School is currently sited in a flood-risk area and has been under water on several occasions, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The DfE’s preferred location for a new school is two miles away at Thorne Farm, Ottery St Mary.

But Liberal Democrat MP Richard Foord, who represents Tipton St John, said he would prefer to see the school rebuilt within the village.

He said: “It is a school that absolutely does need to be rebuilt, but there is a very big question over where."

“Personally, I’m of the view that it should be kept in the village if at all possible.”

Mr Foord said that as it stands, chancellor Rachel Reeves’ spending assessment doesn’t extend to the DfE’s capital budget – the pot of money it would use for large schemes such as rebuilding schools.

“Again though, we want some certainty so I have put in a written question to parliament to make sure the school building program is going ahead and that Tipton St John is still part of it.”

A Department for Education spokesperson said: "We remain committed to improving the condition of the school estate, and the rebuild of Tipton St John is a part of that.

"We continue to work with the school and local partners and look forward to progressing the project when a new suitable site has been secured.

"All future decisions remain subject to the spending review."