Plans announced to move school near Sidmouth closer to Ottery St Mary to avoid flooding

A Sidmouth primary school may have to move to a new location closer to Ottery St Mary due to flood safety risks.

In an open letter to the community Tipton St. John Church of England Primary School's Governing Board (GB) has set out proposals to move the school from its current location on the outskirts of Sidmouth to Thorne Farm in Ottery St Mary.

After recent improvements to Metcombe Brook the board sought clarification from the Environment Agency about the possibility of the school remaining on its current site.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency told the school: "The key message to reinforce is that the existing school site floods to a dangerous level and the ability to provide safe refuge and/or safe access and egress is not an option.

"The development is at high risk of flooding and this risk will increase as a result of climate change. All efforts should be made to relocate the school to a safer location in accordance with Government planning policy."

Although flooding is the main reason for proposals to move the school the GB also identified other problems at the current site; 'time-expired' buildings, the practical problems involved in operating on a split site and the lack of space and facilities.

The open letter states: "The current facilities fall far short of what is needed for modern educational purposes.

"The GB has sought to relocate the school within the village for many years. In total, seven sites have been considered with most falling away because the surrounding road networks are unsuitable. One site did appear feasible and initial discussions suggested a possible way forward.

"However, our application for grant funding to relocate the site was unsuccessful and no suitable funding stream has since been made available. Following meetings with Ministers at the Department for Education we were told that we needed to work with the local authority (Devon County Council) to find and fund a local solution for the school.

"We eventually managed to secure a small contribution from the government for the project at Thorne Farm."

The proposal to move the school should solve the health and safety risks of potential flooding set out by the Environment Agency.

The scheme also funds the financial shortfall for the school's relocation through the associated housing development as Devon County Council owns the site and is willing to release the proceeds to support the school.

According to the GB the proportion of pupils attending from the immediate surrounding area has decreased from 53 per cent in 2012 to only 21 per cent in 2019. There are currently 'significantly more' pupils from Ottery at the school than there are from Tipton.

The GB predicts that in the future the greatest demand for school places will be from Ottery St Mary, with Tipton based students predicted to make up only a small proportion of the school's places.

Tipton St. John Primary School was founded more than 175 years ago and the school's governors have never wanted to leave the area. Their position was explained in the open letter: "Leaving the village has never been the desire of the Governors, but there are no solutions to relocate or rebuild in the village and we cannot remain passive to the risk from flooding.

"Inaction is not an option for the Board as we have been told that remaining on the site puts lives at risk and that the school needs to move to a place of safety.

"Please be assured, the school is relocating to a new site and is not closing. This scheme ensures the continuity of our church school with the same vision, ethos and values and the children will continue their education in new buildings with their existing staff and leadership.

"The school, in its new location, will still serve the village of Tipton St John and the catchment areas will be modified accordingly and following consultation. The GB will remain as the admissions authority for the school and it will serve the whole community."

The new site at Thorne Farm will be built to accommodate 210 pupils, with a class for each year group and also a nursery.

Governors are keen to reassure parents that the growth of the school from 89 pupils to 210 will 'not happen overnight'.

The GB is asking parents and the community to throw their weight behind the plans to relocate to Thorne Farm as the move will 'ensure the sustainability of the school, albeit outside the village itself'.

A spokesperson for the Governing Board said: "There is no deliverable solution for the school remaining in the village and the Governors cannot ignore the risk to children and staff in their care by remaining on the current site. The reality is that there is no 'Plan B' to secure a successful future for our school on an alternative site.

"The consequence for the school if the planning application is not approved is that its sustainability (as a 4 class school) into the future will disappear.

"If the relocation to Thorne Farm proceeds, thereby removing the school off the floodplain and meeting pupil place demand in Ottery, the school will have a long term future continuing to serve the Tipton and Ottery communities."

If you would like to take part in the consultation you have until November 18 to do so. Click the red button below to find out more.