A multi-agency meeting took place in Haywards Heath on Friday 20th October to discuss the future of the former Central Sussex College site in Haywards Heath and options for the future of sixth form education in the area. The site is now in the ownership of the Department for Education.
The meeting was attended by Sir Nicholas Soames MP, the Department for Education, West Sussex County Council, Mid Sussex District Council and the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership.
A positive and constructive discussion was had, with all present acutely aware of the local desire to see the restoration of sixth form education as soon as possible, a point robustly reinforced in the discussion by Sir Nicholas and Mid Sussex Councillors present.
Further work is now going to be undertaken by those present on a proposal for sixth form education on the site before a further meeting of the partners later in the year.
Sir Nicholas Soames MP said: “The restoration of sixth form provision in Haywards Heath is essential for young people’s education and local economic growth and this is what we are working towards. It cannot be right for students to not have a high quality local sixth form college, especially given the growth that the district is experiencing.
“The meeting was incredibly positive and there is clearly a shared determination to find a resolution. Much work is still needed to develop the proposal in detail and I look forward to reviewing progress at the next meeting”.
Further information will be made public as soon as it is possible to do so.