Littlehampton to get 'academy' school.

Dr James Walsh, former Chairman and still a governor of The Littlehampton Community School, welcomes the news that the school is in line to get selected as the very first Academy school in West Sussex. Up till now restricted to inner-city areas, they are being extended to areas where badly needed school improvements or re-build are needed. Many of the the LCS buildings date back to 1938/9, and are totally unsuited to modern teaching, damp, and decrepit. For 10 years governors have been pressing the Tory County Council to do something about the old buildings, and at last the Academy route may be available.

It gets a huge sum of capital to rebuild from the government money (£50million), and has to have an outside "sponsor" who put up about £2 million, and talks are taking place with two contenders. The school would then be re-built, starting in about 12-18 months time, and operate outside West Sussex CC control, receiving annual running costs directly from the government.

Dr Walsh said " After failing to win the prize of the previous finance route, which went to Bognor Regis, this news is stupendous, in that at long last Littlehampton pupils will get the school they need and deserve. There are also plans afoot to improve all the primary schools in the town, so that our children may all have the chance to develop their full potential!"