St Bartholomew’s School, which was founded over 150 years ago, is currently under threat of closure.
The school community is resisting this strongly and the testimony of numerous members of staff, pupils and their families has been commendable and moving.
While we acknowledge the current challenge facing the schools within our local authority regarding pupil numbers, we do not believe the answer is to close a good school with one of the most disadvantaged pupil bodies within the city.
The number of objections submitted to the council was impressive. The governing body was among the objectors and we have attempted to offer solutions to our deficit and pupil numbers. Sadly, these have so far been simply dismissed.
It has become all too clear during this process that the administration is paying lip service to the process of consultation and no real discussions have taken place to consider ways in which we might create a sustainable future for St Bart’s.
While we, as a governing body, oppose the closure, we also have to acknowledge that the school may close despite our best efforts.
Aware of that possibility, we have urged the council to extend the process for closure.
I should be clear what I mean by this – not that the process for determining whether or not the school closes is extended but that, if the decision is taken to close, then the school does not close at the end of this academic year.
A longer period in which to help place our pupils into other schools would be essential.
Our school caters for a wonderfully diverse set of pupils. More than 50 per cent are disadvantaged, 50 per cent are non-white British and more than 30 per cent have English as an additional language.
More than 30 per cent have special educational needs and roughly 10 per cent have an education, health and care plan.
The process for moving schools for the majority of our children would be complex but, however much this is mentioned, sadly it seems to be falling on deaf ears.
The council claims to champion the disadvantaged and yet I see little evidence of any championing the disadvantaged in this process.
Surely we can do better for the young people of our city? Yes, we need to try to balance the books and address the issue of pupil numbers within our city but I do believe we can do this at the same time as doing the very best we can to care for the marginalised.
Whatever the outcome may be of this process, it needs careful discernment and reflection. Sadly, those who have the power in this situation seem in too much of a hurry to allow for that to happen.
A statutory consultation started last month and is open until Tuesday 20 February. It is a new consultation and will not take into account responses to the previous consultation. To take part, click here.
Father Ben Eadon is the chair of governors at St Bartholomew’s Church of England Primary School and the vicar of St Bartholomew’s Church, Brighton.
At first glance it does seem that the “bottom line” is being looked at rather than how the school is helping the community. Small schools are at a financial disadvantage but their teaching methods can be beneficial to the children and, quite possibly, the council as it concentrates extra teaching requirements in one place. I think more time and thought needs to go into help making the school work rather than dismissing it out of hand.
Fr Wagner founded St Bartholomew’s church and its school to serve the poorest people in Brighton. By today’s standards he’d be considered somewhat patrician in his attitudes. Odd that a Victorian toff cared more for the needs of the most vulnerable people than does a progressive Labour Council.
There’s been plenty of development in the area over the past few years. It’s mainly been luxury flats and student accommodation. Students are a valued part of our community but a monoculture is not a good thing. This is especially true if the monoculture has no long term investment in the area. That is death to community. Families have to be committed to their neighbourhood for decades. If we want families – and children – to thrive in our city centre we must build affordable accommodation and the infrastructure to support them, which includes schools. Once again the Victorian toff seems to have grasped things a progressive Council has not. Some progress!
I went to a consultation meeting. I was surprised and disappointed that the Council representative brought along slides that weren’t legible even in the front row. I know because that’s where I was sitting. It didn’t exactly make me feel that the Council were that interested in any consultation at all. Looks like I was right.
False economy. Let the teachers teach and accountants organise the finances. Families have been pushed out of Brighton. I expect the council want the land to sell to another developer.