Background. As you will be aware, our school is required to relocate due to the serious flooding issues on the existing site. The rebuild is due to be funded and delivered by the Department for Education as part of the Government’s School Rebuilding Programme. The first step is for Devon County Council to identify and provide the Department for Education with a suitable piece of land. We consulted on the relocation of the school to Ottery St Mary in 2024 in response to a previous site appraisal exercise which did not identify a suitable site in Tipton. This was met with widespread opposition from the local community and the governors approached Devon County Council and requested they look again for a feasible site in Tipton St John Village.
Update. Last year, Devon County Council agreed to look again at potential sites in Tipton. Land West of Tipton Vale was selected as the one potentially feasible option and a detailed assessment of the site has progressed at pace and as a priority by Devon County Council over the past year. This has involved a multi-disciplinary team working together to prepare for an outline planning application for the development of the site, which requires detailed consideration and assessment of both on-site and off-site works that will be required to enable the site to be developed, including the identification of suitable pedestrian access route through the village. This work is extensive and ongoing. Governors have been regularly updated throughout this process and have worked constructively alongside Devon County Council officers throughout and we now have progress that we can relay to you…
Next Steps. Devon County Council will be leading a drop-in session as part of the outline planning application process to rebuild Tipton St John Primary School on Land West of Tipton Vale. This will be held at Tipton St John Village Hall on Thursday 23rd July (Main hall 2:30pm – 5:30pm / Small hall 5:30pm – 6:30pm). Here you will be able to learn more about the outline plans and discuss this with the project team. The intention is for Devon County Council to submit the outline planning application in the Autumn Term 2026.
Your Role. School governors really hope you can show your support for the project through engagement with the planned drop-in session and by responding to the outline planning application with your comments once the formal planning consultation begins. It is not an option for the school to remain long term in its current location and if this outline planning application is unsuccessful, it is likely the school will move to Ottery St Mary.
A Brighter Future for Our School. It is important that it is understood that this is simply a relocation to a new building, in a nearby location, NOT the opening of a new school. In fact this proposed location would be close enough for us to walk our resources to the new site! The essence of our church school and all that makes us special would journey with us. The Governors’ highest priority is to reach a deliverable solution which offers all pupils of Tipton St John Primary School a safe school building and an environment with allows all pupils and staff to thrive personally, socially and academically and be the best they can be!
Kind regards,
Sarah Walls Amanda Fulford
Chair of Governors Executive Headteacher
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