MP calls for Devon school rebuild

'Urgent action' following floods

Senior government officials will visit Tipton St John to help speed up plans for a site to be found for a new school, following recent flash flooding which led to the evacuation of Tipton St John Primary School.

After Simon Jupp MP held an urgent meeting with Education Minister Baroness Barran in the days after the flooding, Department for Education officials will be visiting prospective sites in the coming weeks to consider appropriate locations for the new school.

The village of Tipton St John was severely impacted when intense rainfall of up to 130mm fell across a few hours, leading to the evacuation of children and staff from the local primary school who had to be rescued by the fire service.

Working with the Department for Education, Diocese of Exeter, Devon County Council and the local school leadership team, East Devon’s MP has called for a new school to be built in a safe location as soon as possible. In December, the Department for Education confirmed funding would come from the School Rebuilding Programme to build a new school to replace Tipton St John Primary.

Today in Parliament, Simon Jupp MP called for building work to be prioritised to protect pupils and staff and has secured a further meeting with Ministers.

Simon Jupp, MP for East Devon, said; "Children and staff had to be rescued by the fire service after Tipton St John Primary School flooded recently, and it's clear action is needed now more than ever. Since being elected, I’ve raised the school’s situation in Parliament, regularly met with Ministers at the Department for Education, visited the school many times, and worked with the Diocese of Exeter and Devon County Council to secure its long-term future. Last December, I was pleased to confirm the government would fund the building of a new school. Since then, work to assess every possible option to keep the school in the village has continued and I’m looking forward to welcoming senior government officials to Tipton St John in the coming weeks. I'll continue to press for the urgent relocation of the school as the safety of children and staff must come first."

Nick Gibb MP, Minister of State for Schools, said in Parliament today; "I was sorry to hear about the flash flooding and the impact that this has had on the school and the local community. Tipton St John Primary School was selected for the School Rebuilding Programme in December which will ensure a long-term solution for the school, protecting children and staff from flooding in the future. Officials are working with the Diocese of Exeter, Devon County Council, and my Honourable Friend to identify and secure a new site for the school, and I thank him for his support to help make this happen as quickly as possible."