The news that Sir Robert Woodard Academy has agreed to take a further 70 pupils for the next school year in September 2024 is very welcome and should hopefully address the immediate shortfall in Adur places for pupils coming from west Shoreham.
Shoreham Councillor Kevin Boram and I have been involved in a series of meetings with Education Ministers, DfE officials, the Regional Schools Commissioner and the County Council to put pressure on West Sussex to find an urgent solution to the mess that is of their making. This is only a breathing space solution which should also enable SWRA time to consult on changes to its catchment area which will address the problem of the ‘black hole’ experienced repeatedly by pupils from west Shoreham schools especially Swiss Gardens. In the longer term we still favour the expansion of Shoreham Academy on the Middle Road site as used to be the case with Kings Manor so that Adur pupils have a realistic choice of Adur schools.
This is a good start but West Sussex still has a lot to do to make up for the upheaval experienced by many of our constituents and their children in Shoreham and we are still working with them on a transport solution for pupils forced to go to Worthing as well.
