New school's name and badge is revealed

If the school gets the green light by the government, it will be called St Clement CE Primary Academy and will open in September 2017.

It will be run by St Nicolas and St Mary CE Primary School and will be a one or two form entry academy, depending on demand.

David Etherton, executive headteacher at St Nicolas and St Mary, said the name was suggested by Father James Grant of St Nicolas’ Church in Shoreham and linked the area and the school’s Christian ethos.

“We wanted something that local people could identify with, and St Clement is the patron saint of mariners.

“We had already hoped to link our curriculum to the local environment, including the harbour, the lifeboat station and the nature reserves we have on the River Adur. We felt it made a clear connection that we are a church school and it linked to the seaside town we live in.”

The badge, which Mr Etherton said he ‘loves’, was designed by Karen Wells, a former parent at St Nicolas and St Mary CE Primary School who also designed its badge when Mr Etherton became headteacher 11 years ago.

The application for the new school was submitted at the end of September.

The team believes that the Department of Education will make the decision between January and April 2017.

A team of people with backgrounds in business, finance, legal, HR, construction and the church has been assembled to set up the school.

If the bid is successful, parents who have completed an expression of interest form will be invited to formally apply for a place and the headteacher will be announced.

For the first year, St Clement CE Primary Academy could be based at its sister school while a permanent site in Shoreham is found.

Tim Loughton, MP for East Worthing & Shoreham, endorsed the new school bid: “St Nicolas and St Mary Primary School has an excellent reputation for offering outstanding education and nurturing for Shoreham pupils, making it one of the most sought after schools in the area.

“The creation of a new sister school offers a great opportunity for yet more local children to benefit from that success story and get the very best start in their school careers.”

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