Six locations on shortlist for site of new school

Arun District Council is exploring six sites around Yapton as possible sites for a new school

Six sites are to be looked at by a council as it continues to identify a location for a new secondary school in West Sussex.

Arun District Council had already selected five potential sites from a list of 14 for the school near Yapton.

An extra option, north-east of the village, which had originally been the council's preferred location has been reinstated following a recommendation from planning officers.

The council approved a £30,000 site selection study for the six locations to determine its final preference.

Council leader Martin Lury said children in Arun had to get a bus to Selsey to get to school, adding the district had a "real problem".

He said: “We need to carry on and urge the secondary school site to be found in the locality, otherwise we’re doing a disservice to a lot of our local children.”

Data from 2022 showed the capacity of Arun’s secondary schools would reach 95% full by 2023/24, due to the number of pupils moving up from primary school, according to a report seen by Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The report said the new school would aim to be a 10-form entry secondary school, with room for four-form expansion and a sixth-form provision.

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