Worthing infant school will remain independent but council still looking to cut primary school places

By Sam Morton
Published 22nd Feb 2023, 12:18 BST
Updated 22nd Feb 2023, 12:18 BST
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The fight to keep an infant school as independent has won after plans to reduce the number of primary school places in Worthing and Durrington were amended.

West Sussex County Council’s proposals to cut the number of primary school places by almost 1,000 were put out to public consultation last year. The plans included merging Springfield, Lyndhurst Infants and Chesswood Juniors into an all-through primary school using the Chesswood and Springfield sites.

Children at Springfield school appeared in a Love Actually style video objecting plans to amalgamate with two other schools in the area. You can watch the school’s full video online at https://vimeo.com/782579553

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Tim Loughton, MP for East Worthing & Shoreham, added his voice to more than 1,000 people who signed a petition opposing the plans.

Children at Springfield school, including Tilly Folwell, appeared in a Love Actually style video objecting plans to amalgamate with two other schools in the areaChildren at Springfield school, including Tilly Folwell, appeared in a Love Actually style video objecting plans to amalgamate with two other schools in the area
Children at Springfield school, including Tilly Folwell, appeared in a Love Actually style video objecting plans to amalgamate with two other schools in the area

The council said the proposed plans to ‘improve the organisation’ of primary schools in Worthing and Durrington are now moving forward, following feedback from the local community.

"In total, 697 people took part online in an eight-week consultation on proposals put forward, with many more writing directly to the county council’s cabinet member for learning and skills,” a council spokesperson said.

“The overwhelming majority of those who responded supported the proposal to merge Chesswood Junior and Lyndhurst Infants into one ‘all-through’ primary school on the Chesswood site, leaving Springfield Infants unchanged as a standalone infant school.

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“As a result, the county council is recommending this option for approval, as outlined in papers published [on Tuesday. February 21).”