The closure of a Portslade school will leave children on the wrong side of town in limbo, parents say.
About two in five children at St Peter’s Community School in Portslade come from across the border in Fishersgate or elsewhere in West Sussex.
While Brighton and Hove City Council says there will be spaces for all Brighton and Hove children within two miles of the school, it’s not known how far West Sussex children would have to travel if it closes in July.
Brighton and Hove City Council does not have a duty to find places for children who live outside the city.
Fishersgate’s only primary school closed in 2013, which means the closest West Sussex school is Eastbrook Primary Academy in Southwick.
One parent who lives in West Sussex, Kirsty Moore, says she chose St Peter’s because its small class sizes were best for her daughter Hope, who is autistic.
She’s now afraid she won’t be able to find a school with places for both Hope and her younger daughter Evie, who is due to start school in September.
She said: “I’ve emailed a few schools who aren’t able to offer both my children school places just the one
“It’s such a horrible situation. Hope will not cope with 30 children in one class.”
Another said: “So many families with children live on that border and then those people choose to close St Peter’s. Where on earth will they go if they take our school away?”
Councillor Jim Funnell, who represents Eastbrook ward covering Fishersgate and Southwick on Adur Council, said he had been approached by parents worried about what the closure would mean.
He said: “Fishersgate children have been going to that school for several years now. I’ve taken this up with my colleagues at West Sussex and I’m hoping they will negotiate with Brighton to see if anything can be done.
“It’s going to be very difficult.”
A West Sussex County Council spokesperson said: “We are aware of the proposals from Brighton and Hove City Council and will work with the authority through planning processes to support any children living in West Sussex who may be affected.
“We remain committed to providing education for all children in West Sussex and helping them fulfil their potential.”
A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: “There are currently a number of children attending St Peter’s who travel to this school from West Sussex.
“There are a number of schools in West Sussex local to these families and sufficient places for all these children should these parents wish to apply for a school in that area.
“West Sussex County Council are a formal consultee on our proposals. They are aware of our plans and will be able to reply to the consultation.
“We have looked at all the pupils attending the school and looked at places in schools in Brighton and Hove and in West Sussex.
“We do not include children who live in West Sussex in our future forecasts of pupil numbers because we do not have a statutory responsibility to provide them with a place.
“We forecast the need for places for children in Brighton & Hove. West Sussex County Council does the same for their children.
“Our education team will be in regular contact with colleagues in West Sussex to plan ahead for the proposed closure of St Peter’s.”
If anything this weakens the arguement to keep the school open if 40% of the pupils are not even from Brighton and Hove, (although I appreciatte WSCC will pay for placements). Eastbrook is only a mile away and in theory actually closer than that if you are living in West Sussex. It’s a terribly sad situation but with rapid pupil numbers dropping what else can the LA do, (never thought I would defend the LA)
Eastbrook don’t have space.
You are more than welcome to come and visit our school but we currently only have one space in Year 2 and three spaces in Year 5. Shoreham beach
Buckingham park is a huge school to be coming from such a small one. Plus not suitable for some children with SEN needs.
St nics (not suitable for our family) ❌
Mile oak ❌ can’t accommodate both
Brackenbury ❌ no space for both
Benfield ❌ can’t accommodate both
St Mary’s (not suitable for our family) ❌
Peter gladwin ❌ already oversubscribed
Swiss gardens ? Small but can only accommodate 1 but could change come 24
Glebe ❌ shit for Sen
Seaside ❌ to big but amazing SENCO can’t accommodate both
The Globe ❌ can’t accommodate any
My outcome after phoning around.
From eastbrook.
“ Currently we have vacancies in EYFS, YI in September 2024 and only one space in Y2, Y3 in September 2024”
Needless to say, stepping back a little, the reducing of school intakes and closures of school is a symptom of our social housing shortage in Brighton. Whilst the council are indeed doing their best to increase stock, most recently the finalisation of the purchase of the Kubic apartments, this is going to remain a struggle without a solid housing plan from central government – and personally…I don’t see this happening until after a general election within the next 10 months.
Brighton & Hove might not have a statutory responsibility to provide them with a place but it has a duty to ensure those who live in Brighton & Hove do have a place within reach. If there are limited spaces already and people on the border are fighting for those, what do you expect people to do??? Travel miles to take siblings across the city as both can’t be accommodated. Also, this is meant to be a genuine consultation but the council seem intent on trying to push this through with INCORRECT numbers. They’ve already admitted that they don’t include West Sussex in the forecast and school numbers. Any private sector business would be firing said person for not doing their due diligence. How can they get away with this???
“Brighton & Hove might not have a statutory responsibility to provide them with a place but it has a duty to ensure those who live in Brighton & Hove do have a place within reach.”
You are wrong.
B&C CC has a legal duty only re children living in B&H. They have no statutory duty re children living in West Sussex. West Sussex County Council has that responsibility.
And that’s why B&H don’t inclide any WSCC resident pupils in it’s figures.
The whole sorry mess is disgusting they can fudge around the fact as much as they like it’s all about money not enough housing stock look around the area how much building has gone on in the last few years shutting a nursery is a disgrace council don’t care about children and people’s lives these are the children of our future both my girls attended the school and they are now grown ups with there own children and have both got fantastic career’s and a property of there own a child’s start in life is the most important time for them get that wrong or the school lets you down well there is no going back from that. Another point is the schools history it’s so upsetting there are ways of keeping the school open these barbaric councillors only have one thing in mind pound signs .
Yes it is about money.
The Government only permits a certain level of empty places when it calculates funding for schools. B&HCC has more empty places that that allowance so it has to rationalise school sizes.
Councillors aren’t ‘barbaric’ they are having to act in accordance with the law and that means reducing the number of empty school places.
Didn’t Labour promise not to close schools in their manifesto?
Yes they did
Does West Sussex CC pay Brighton for their pupils at our schools? If not why am I as a Brighton & Hove Council tax payer paying for them?
I think they do pay Brighton and vice versa