Lloyd Hatton Urges Ministers to Deliver School Projects

Lloyd Hatton, Labour MP for South Dorset, has today urged the Secretary of State for Education to work at pace to deliver two school projects locally – rebuilding Dorset Studio School’s school buildings and opening the proposed SEND special school at the Osprey Quay site on Portland.

The previous government had expressed an interest in rebuilding the school buildings at Dorset Studio School, near to Kingston Maurward College. However, the last government failed to release the funding required or ever deliver the project. This means progress rebuilding the school came to a standstill last year, because the proposed funding support had not been delivered by the Department for Education.

Speaking in the House of Commons today, Mr Hatton highlighted the urgent need for Dorset Studio School to secure a new home, particularly given its high percentage of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Lloyd has already met with the relevant Minister’s team to push for the proposals at Dorset Studio School to get the ‘green light’.

Mr Hatton also raised concerns about the much-delayed SEND special school at the Osprey Quay site on Portland, which was first pledged in 2019. For too long, the Osprey Quay school site has sat unused, despite the urgent need for more SEND school places across South Dorset. Mr Hatton has written to the relevant Ministers, calling for the proposed school at Osprey Quay to finally open its doors.

In Parliament, Mr Hatton asked the Minister: “The previous Conservative Government failed to build much-needed new school buildings at Dorset Studio School and failed – for years – to open the proposed Osprey Quay special school for children with SEND.

“Dorset Studio School urgently needs a new home, and families across Weymouth and Portland would benefit hugely from a special SEND school at the Osprey Quay site. So can the Minister outline what steps they are taking to get these two key school projects over the line?”

The lack of progress on these essential projects has left local families frustrated, with many struggling to secure a suitable school place for their child. Mr Hatton will continue to urge the Government to prioritise these two projects and provide a timeline for funding and delivery.