Brighton and Hove Buses said that it was bringing in a new school bus service linking Whitehawk with Varndean School and neighbouring Dorothy Stringer.
The move comes after Brighton and Hove City Council changed the secondary school catchments to give pupils from the estate in east Brighton a better chance of going to the popular schools.
The bus company said: “From Wednesday 3 September 2025, Brighton and Hove Buses are introducing the 94B service, a brand-new school bus service linking Whitehawk, Manor Hill and Elm Grove with Varndean School and Dorothy Stringer School.
“The route will operate on schooldays only at no cost to the taxpayer, creating new and essential connections to those in education.
“The addition of route 94B also assists with loadings on school routes 94 and 94A which have been very popular this academic year.”
The bis company’s commercial director Nick Hill said: “We are delighted to announce this new service ahead of the new school year.
“The new 94B provides a new service for young people in Whitehawk and Manor Hill to be able to study at these schools without needing to change buses.”
Buses are due to leave the top of Whitehawk just after 7.30am and from Arundel Road just before.
The changes are expected to mean that more children from Kemp Town, who might previously have gone to Varndean and Stringer, will be allocated a place at Longhill, in Rottingdean.
That will help some children but will the bus company also put on a bus service for the schoolchildren from Whitehawk and Woodingdean attending BACA. as this is also a two bus change?
BACA. is further away from their homes than Varndean if you live at the top of Whitehawk for example.
The 23 from Falmer university is being extended to Woodingdean every 30 minutes in September
Most Household in the Elm Grove area are in the Catchment already for Varndean & Stringer Schools already aren’t they.
Unfortunately being in a catchment doesn’t guarantee a spot. It only allows you to request that school. Varndean and Stringer are generally oversubscribed so although it’s nice that kids from Whitehawk will be able to request to attend these schools, it’s worth noting that for each child who gets a spot, another is declined. So, unfortunately many children who live next to Varndean & Stringer will have to travel to a school much further away.
Whitehawk kids always have to travel since Stanley Deason, which was inside Whitehawk, was closed.
Your right-those that get Stringer & Varndean from Whitehawk-someone May lose out nearer to the Catchment-and I think more from Kemp town could get Longhill.
Stanley Closed in 2005 I believe and have just given those in Whitehawk-Longhill against what they didn’t want, and those who have got Stringer/ Varndean for Sept 25 now are mostly on Free School Meals or have needs-all schools make adjustments for everyone & Popular schools can always have the Bullies.