amp +speakers advice?

The Arcams are good speakers, but you can do much, much better for that price.

Take a look at the B&W 686, a much better speaker, which also costs less (£269). I always recommend them, as they've just blown me away every time I hear them.

On top of that, while the amp is good, it's not IMO as good as something like the Rotel RA04. I own quite an amount of NAD kit, as well as quite a lot of Rotel kit, and the Rotel kit is generally better made, and sounds slightly better to my ears. The Rotel RA04 costs less than that NAD and is built better, plus it'll match the B&W speakers better.

I'd actually look at the B&W 685.

The B&Ws will wipe the floor with the Morduant Shorts. The Mezzos are good speakers, but the latest B&W 6 series is absolutely stunning given the price.

80 miles isn't that far I travel that in a week's school journeys. I'd say it's worth it to get a sound system which is significantly better.