Surrey County Council’s Cabinet has today agreed plans to relocate Reigate Priory Junior School to a new, purpose-built school building at Woodhatch Place on Cockshot Hill.
The new site will retain the school’s five-form entry and deliver a modern, inclusive environment designed with pupil safety, sustainability and seamless indoor–outdoor learning in mind.
The purpose-built facility will offer spacious classrooms, improved areas for whole school activities and a design that prioritises accessibility and safeguarding. The contemporary layout will create a warm, welcoming place for children to learn and staff to work.
One of the key considerations behind the relocation is the longstanding safeguarding concern arising from the public right of way that currently runs through the school grounds. Despite extensive efforts over many years, this issue cannot be resolved on the existing site, and providing a secure learning environment remains a top priority.
The decision also reflects the increasing challenges posed by the historic Reigate Priory building. While carefully maintained, the ageing structure requires significant ongoing investment and is no longer suitable for delivering a modern education. Over the past decade, Surrey County Council has spent around £2.1 million on essential maintenance, over 1,300% higher than equivalent sized primary schools.
A comprehensive package of highway improvements will be introduced in the local area to help ensure the school’s relocation has minimal impact on residents. Plans include a new 20mph zone from Reigate Centre to Woodhatch Road, upgraded pedestrian crossings, traffic calming measures and initiatives to reduce congestion. The Council has also committed to providing a shuttle bus service to support families living in the north of Reigate to travel to Woodhatch Place. Together, these enhancements will create safer, more accessible routes for families and support active, sustainable travel.
Jonathan Hulley, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning, said: “Today’s decision ensures that children in Reigate will continue to benefit from modern, inclusive education. Alongside this, our investment in safer roads and sustainable travel is designed to support families and the wider community. While Cabinet has taken the decision to relocate Reigate Priory Junior School, this does not rule out any future consideration of wider school organisational changes, which could later be explored by academy trusts or the new East Surrey unitary authority.”
Mr Moses, Headteacher of Reigate Priory Junior School, said: “We are delighted with the decision from the Cabinet today. We look forward to the journey of building our stunning new school. It promises to be an exciting time ahead as we continue to bring learning to life, both inside and out, for the children of Reigate Priory Junior School.”
Construction is expected to begin later this year, with the new school set to open in 2028.
Notes to editors:
The Cabinet decision follows an education consultation in 2024, which led to the formation of an Education Working Group tasked with exploring options for reorganising primary school provision in the Reigate area. In parallel, Cabinet agreed to pursue planning consent for the relocation of Reigate Priory Junior School, which was granted in July 2025. The Education Working Group concluded their findings, and these were reported to Cabinet to enable them to determine whether to consider wider school reorganisation proposals or proceed with the relocation of Reigate Priory Junior School.
The Education Working Group, supported by school leaders and a parent reference group, recommended the reorganisation of all schools in the Reigate Primary Planning Area to a full primary model. However, the group could not reach consensus on the number of places each school should provide to balance current demand with future flexibility. As the council is not the decision maker for all schools in the area, any potential future reorganisation would require further consultation with school leaders and communities, as well as statutory processes and Department for Education approvals.
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