Kingston health providers to run primary school

The organisations have formed a charitable trust, Surbiton Education Health Trust, which will be responsible for running a new primary school on the site of the former Surbiton Hospital.

The charitable trust has been selected to run Lime Tree Primary School following six weeks of public consultation and an interview of both prospective providers by the Office of the Schools’ Adjudicator.

The school is due to open in September 2012 for 60 reception aged children and will also provide 26 part-time nursery places.

It will be one of the first school trusts in the country to involve partners from both the health and education sectors, according to a statement from NHS Kingston.

“The unique combination of experience on the trust board will pave the way for a primary school that can promote both excellent educational achievement and healthy living for pupils,” it says.

David Smith, director of health and adult services for Kingston Council and NHS Kingston, said: “Research has shown that the more educated you are, the healthier you are – and the healthier you are, the easier it is for you to successfully access education.

“By using our unique combination of experience across the health and education sectors we intend Lime Tree Primary school to provide outstanding education so that all children will make excellent progress and be encouraged to lead healthy lives.”