I was very concerned to hear about the difficulties currently faced by Thomas Bennett Community College regarding the proposed changes announced by The Kemnal Academies Trust (TKAT). I immediately contacted TKAT to express this concern and have also raised the matter with the Department for Education.

Around a quarter of the school’s funding is going on PFI loan repayments. When the school was rebuilt in 2004-05, PFI was the only option on the table. As Leader of West Sussex County Council at the time I called on the then-Department for Education & Skills for direct funding of the project, but the then-Government was clear that it was either PFI or no rebuilding of Thomas Bennett.

Furthermore, the Community College has seen falling pupil numbers enrolling over a number of years which further reduces funding as this is based on a per-pupil system. The school will be unable to recover and attract new students without the support it now needs and TKAT should provide this.

Under the new National Funding Formula (NFF), Thomas Bennett Community College is to receive an additional 12.6 per cent increase in pupil-led funding.

On the wider issue of school funding; just last week I joined with other West Sussex MPs in meeting the Education Secretary to pursue our concerns. While West Sussex schools are to receive an extra £28 million in funding through the National Funding Formula I am calling for additional financial support to recognise increasing costs borne by schools and, in particular, special educational needs.

I also call on TKAT to work at restructuring the PFI loan to support the future viability of Thomas Bennett and, additionally, use their own resources to ensure the school has a strong, viable future.