Proposal
The Governors of the Otter Valley Federation are consulting on a proposal to transfer Tipton St John C of E Primary School to a brand new school building on a site at Thorne Farm in Ottery St Mary.
The Governors, Diocese of Exeter and Devon County Council have carefully considered all options and challenges for securing the long term future of the school and would like to hear your views on this proposal.
Background
The Otter Valley Governors, Diocese of Exeter and Devon County Council have been working for a number of years to find a solution to the significant flood risk present at the school. Flooding has affected the school on numerous occasions and most recently in 2023.
The Environment Agency has identified that flooding from the Metcombe Stream and River Otter gives rise to life threatening flood risk to users of the school site.
In December 2022, the Department for Education announced that Tipton St John C of E Primary School was to be included in the national Schools Rebuilding Programme due to the flood risk assessment identifying a significant risk to the school resulting in a potential risk to life.
As part of the Department for Education (DfE) Schools Rebuilding Programme a Site Appraisal Report, commissioned by the Secretary of State and the DfE, has assessed the viability of four sites for the proposed relocation and identifies Thorne Farm, Ottery St Mary as the preferred site to progress through to a feasibility stage.
Documents
A consultation document, impact assessment, the DfE site appraisal report and a DCC transport technical assessment are available on the school’s website at: Governor Public Consultation – Tipton St John (tipton-stjohn.devon.sch.uk) or via DCC’s Have Your Say consultation website: Proposed relocation of Tipton St John C of E Primary School – Have Your Say (devon.gov.uk)
Consultation
A drop-in session, open to all those interested in the proposal, will be held on Wednesday 22nd May 2024 in the Village Hall, Tipton St John. You are welcome to drop in anytime from 4-7pm. Governors from the Otter Valley Federation will be available to answer questions as well as officers from Devon County Council and representatives from the Diocese of Exeter.
The Governors are keen to hear the views of the community on the proposed relocation of the school to the site at Thorne Farm in Ottery St Mary.
The closing date for responses is by midnight on the 19 June 2024.
You can respond either by: e-mailing: admin@tipton-stjohn.devon.sch.uk. Please mark your email ‘Consultation on relocation’
Or by post to; Board of Governors, Consultation on relocation, Tipton St John Church of England Primary School, Tipton St John, Sidmouth, EX10 0AG
All responses to the consultation will be shared with Devon County Council unless you request otherwise. We will not send individual responses to any specific points made.
A paper with frequently asked questions (FAQs) and answers will be made available on the above websites during the consultation.
Please see Devon County Council’s Privacy Notice for further information on how consultation responses are managed: www.devon.gov.uk/privacy/privacy-notices/privacy-notice-for-representations-to-school-organisation-statutory-consultations/