A troubled Brighton primary school is expected to close, parents were told today (Tuesday 20 January).
Middle Street Primary School, the oldest in Brighton and Hove, ended the most recent financial year with a deficit of £256,000. The school’s budget is just over £1 million a year.
It was the second year running that the budget was overspent by a six-figure sum and pupil numbers fell from 196 in the 2024-25 school year to 165 in the present one.
An interim executive board (IEB) was appointed in place of the board of governors last year – something that DfE guidance said should only happen at a “school causing concern”.
The IEB met last Thursday (15 January), on the final day for parents to apply for a primary school place in September. There had been fears that prospective numbers would be even lower than this year.
And as well as financial problems, not helped by falling pupil numbers, staff turnover had been high and a number of dissatisfied parents had withdrawn their children at short notice. Concerns were also raised about safeguarding.
Head teacher Rob Cooper has been absent since last September and a colleague Dan Flinter was absent for most of the first half term of the autumn. Mr Flinter is since understood to have left.
The cost of paying the salaries of Mr Cooper and Mr Flinter in their absence will only have added to the financial burden facing the school.
The IEB has employed two interim heads since the start of September and an interim executive head.
A consultation is due to start next week, including public meetings, before a decision to be taken by Brighton and Hove City Council at a meeting of the full council in May.
If councillors vote to shut the school, it is due to close during the summer holidays.
The letter to parents, from interim executive head teacher Rachel Kershaw, was headed: “Proposal to close Middle Street Primary School.”
It said: “I am writing to share some difficult news with you. We understand this letter will be upsetting to receive, and we want you to know that the decision has not been taken lightly.
“On Thursday 15 January, the Interim Executive Board (IEB) of Middle Street Primary School met to discuss the future of the school.
“After carefully considering the current situation and giving thorough thought to all the factors affecting the school’s viability, the board concluded that the school does not have a viable future in its current position.
“They have recommended to Brighton and Hove City Council that the school should close.
“The council has carefully considered this recommendation and recognises the dedication and professionalism the IEB and interim leadership team has shown in supporting the school through recent challenges.
“Following this recommendation, the council has concluded that a public consultation needs to be held on the proposed closure of Middle Street Primary School on (Monday) 31 August 2026.
“We know this news will be unsettling for you and your children and we recognise the significant impact this will have on your family and the whole school community.
“Your child’s education and wellbeing are our absolute priority and we are committed to supporting you through this uncertain time.”
The letter included a section about the six-week public consultation said: “The council wants to hear from you. They will begin a public consultation on (Monday) 26 January, running until (Monday) 9 March.
“Your views, questions and concerns are important to us and we encourage all parents, carers, pupils, staff and members of the wider community to participate.
“We have arranged three public meetings where you can ask questions and share your views
- Tuesday 10 February, 1.45pm to 3.15pm, in-person at Middle Street Primary School
- Wednesday 25 February, 9am to 10.30am, in-person at Middle Street Primary School
- Wednesday 4 March, 6pm, online via Microsoft Teams
“We will share full details about how to submit your views and access the online consultation early next week.”
The letter also said: “Your child’s education continues. Please be assured that the school remains fully open and committed to your child’s teaching and care throughout this academic year.
“Nothing changes in terms of the day-to-day education and support your child will receive.
“We understand this news raises many questions and concerns about your child’s future.
“Please know that myself and Michelle (May) are here for you and happy to speak to you about any worries or questions you may have.
“The council will also be arranging additional support for pupils and families during this period and we will keep you informed about what is available to help you.
“After the consultation period closes, cabinet members will carefully review all responses and feedback received before deciding whether to move forward with publishing statutory notices.
“If statutory notices are published, there will be a further four-week period for representations.
“Any final decision about closure must be made by the full council which is currently scheduled for Thursday 21 May 2026.
“We will keep you informed at every stage of this process and ensure that you have opportunities to have your voice heard.
“We recognise how difficult and unsettling this news is for your whole family and we are committed to supporting you and your child through whatever lies ahead.”
I believe that will make four schools in the past couple of years……
Yep – and all under a Labour council who pledged in their 2023 manifesto to “keep schools open”.
Same with libraries too.
Desperately sad situation for families and staff affected, and desperately sad that the “change” politicians promised after the Tory austerity years has not materialised.
Yet it was a conservative decision to lift the stamp duty on second home purchases that saw a huge influx of Londoners buying up properties in B&H in 2020 and exploding the housing market. Add to that landowners following suit and making it nearly impossible for families to secure a rental property in the city. Ours was one of the many young families forced (not chosen) to leave the city we’ve loved and called home for many years, and our friends and support network too. Our kids would have gone to one of these schools. It’s important to remember the policies that have led to this. The stamp duty was not a concession to people truly suffering during the lockdown it was to conservative and would be conservative voters to keep the faith.
Believe it or not, 14 years of underfunding and ruining so much in the UK cannot be done instantly. Please use common sense.
*undone.
St Barts
St Josephs
Hertford Infants site closed and school merged with Juniors
St Peter’s (Portslade)
Now Middle Street.
Fewer pupils because families can no longer afford to live in Brighton.
And most importantly, a massively low birth rate.
And let’s not forget Coombe Road requesting to become an academy. Until the government addresses the failings of school funding then we will continue to see established schools buckling under insurmountable financial pressure and being run into the ground by councils failing to support them.
The rate things are going all smaller community schools will be swallowed up to become massive education factories – as it’s the only way they can financially survive. No doubt the council we plead poverty and insist they can’t relieve financial pressures while the chancellor continues to talk about tough choices and tightens the purse strings further.
Absolutely and the council have allowed so many family homes to be converted into student HMOs
Yes Nic, it’s disgraceful. Nearly every house currently available to let in Bevendean is an HMO. Please sign my petition https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/740850
Rather than a petition that will likely go nowhere, Deborah, have you thought about setting up a Neighbourhood Forum and working on developing a Neighbourhood plan?
Homewood School Moulsecoomb has also closed ( secondary school used to be Uplands)
Cedar in Hollingdean moved to Downs View Woodingdean so Hill Park have opened a new school on Cedars site I believe.
Woodingdean is reducing Numbers for Reception ( but not sure if that’s this Sept or Sept 27)
Brighton to expensive to live in nowadays, a fortune to rent a place and not many have Deposit saved for a House, even those that have Born here can’t get on Council List as there aren’t enough places to go around.
Please do not allow Rob Cooper back into education. He was responsible for the destruction of this once happy, successful, and deeply loved school.
The mass teacher walkout and the significant number of pupils leaving Middle Street were a direct consequence of his actions; falling birth rates have nothing to do with people pulling kids out of this school. The school was stable and thriving until his involvement.
Repeated complaints were raised, yet the Local Authority failed to intervene in time. This failure allowed the situation to escalate, resulting in damage that could—and should—have been avoided.
100% correct
Spot on comment. Parents and staff, past and present, need answers regarding the appointment of Rob Cooper and his conduct while head teacher. Why didn’t the co-chairs of the former board take action? They were many people whose complaints to the governors were dismissed and ignored. It is so very sad this once thriving, popular school is to close.
And yet under his leadership Middle Street was Ofsted rated Good with Outstanding elements. It’s not good enough for some that the Head was forced out, the school now has to close. My kids are happy and thriving at Middle Street. I’m gutted that a parent has gone to the press with this. It’s the children who love their school that will now suffer.
Rob, is that you? 😀
Or are you one of his faithful governors who tried to cover up all the bullying and overspending? Because you are an accomplice in this disaster.
I second the support of Rob. He is the reason that we chose Middle Street for our child and the reason that we were so happy with the school. We have complete faith in him and have missed his presence and guidance at the school. It isn’t the same without him.
I cannot believe that there are people out there who would create such a hate campaign against him given all that he has brought to Middle Street.
If you disagree then respectfully, Middle St wasn’t the right fit for you. But perhaps the venomous campaign against him should be dropped along with your damnation for the school.
Rob Cooper did what he could under the circumstances. He started just during COVID and it was an awful time for childrens and teachers alike and probably a lot of the spending had to go into covering teachers who were not able to come to work after look down. It’s very sad news, and the saddest part of all is to see this article trashing this lovely school with it’s lovely people. My son has been very happy here and it saddens him all the news.
While there were clearly management issues at Middle Street, the situation was significantly worsened by a very vocal and active group of parents who appeared to have a personal vendetta against Rob. The atmosphere created last year, including hostility towards anyone who did not share their views, was deeply damaging and made an already difficult situation far worse.
The level of vitriol, exclusion, and pressure placed on the wider school community created an awful environment for families and staff alike. When that group moved on, it was a genuine relief for many, but the disruption they contributed to has continued to affect the school community since. I hope those involved are able to reflect on what they contributed to, even if they feel their actions were entirely justified at the time. Schools need constructive engagement, not division.
Wonder how much the site will cost when it goes to auction? Hopefully it won’t end up as so-called “luxury” apartments as the tenants will only complain about the noise from the Hippodrome.
It sounds like someone really wants to sell that site off!
This is devastating news for families and the wider Brighton community.
Middle Street Primary School was a beloved, inclusive, community-rooted school. It did not fail because the community stopped believing in it — it failed because of prolonged leadership instability, ineffective governance, and a serious delay in institutional response despite repeated parental concerns.
Over several years, parents consistently raised concerns relating to leadership, staffing instability, safeguarding, and school culture during the headship of Rob Cooper, supported by others, under a governing body that appointed and retained this leadership. At the time, those concerns were not acted upon.
It is also important to acknowledge governance during this period. Mrs Sally Coleman-Lewis and Anna Racher served as co-chairs of governors prior to the appointment of the Interim Executive Board (IEB). Governance exists to challenge leadership, escalate concerns, and protect the school community. Decisions made — and issues not addressed — during this time are relevant.
What is particularly painful for families is that parents were ultimately proven right.
Following the appointment of the IEB, an investigation concluded in September, and the very complaints parents had been raising for years were upheld. By the time this validation came, trust had been eroded, staff turnover was high, pupil numbers had fallen, and the school was already in deep difficulty.
The Department for Education functions within the council took far too long to intervene, despite the volume, consistency, and seriousness of parental complaints. Earlier action could have stabilised leadership, restored confidence, and prevented the decline in pupil numbers that is now being cited as justification for closure.
To frame this situation purely as a financial or demographic issue is misleading. Falling pupil numbers were a consequence, not the cause.
This feels like a profound systemic failure — one where families spoke up, were ignored for too long, later vindicated, and are now being asked to accept the loss of their school as inevitable.
Middle Street deserved better.
Its children deserved better.
And the community deserves transparency, accountability, and honesty — not consultation only after the damage has already been done.
Another Brighton institution, with prime real estate land worth a fortune!!! Middle Street will always hold a special place in my heart, with fond memories of the one of a kind Nursery which closed, and now the Primary school; I suspect this has been the plan all along. Give the wonderful staff & parents of Middle Street enough string to hang…. and then sell it off for a pitence to private investors! Result! Brighton loses a much loved inner city school, the council sells it below market value and the rich get richer. What a sad state of affairs 🥹🥲🥹🥲
The suggestion that a “small group of vocal parents” bears significant responsibility for this school’s collapse is not only absurd, it is a continuation of the same pattern of punching down that characterised the final years of the old governance regime.
Perhaps those making these accusations might look a little closer to home. The two co-chairs presided over a board of governors that was, in a move unprecedented for Brighton and Hove, removed entirely by the council and replaced with an Interim Executive Board. This doesn’t happen because things are going well. It happens when a governing body is deemed so dysfunctional that it cannot even be trusted to oversee improvement.
The idea that parents who raised concerns bear more responsibility for this school’s decline than the individuals who actually held power, who actually had the institutional authority and duty to act, is laughable.
And why were those parents so “vocal” in the first place? Because the board of governors had been rendered utterly incapable of performing its most basic function: holding school leadership accountable. It couldn’t respond appropriately to complaints. Its negligence created significant legal liabilities. It had been stuffed with yes-people who responded to Rob Cooper’s flattery with compliance.
When official channels fail, people find other ways to be heard. That is not a vendetta, it is what happens when those who hold power in institutions abandon their responsibilities.
The IEB that replaced them was full of highly competent people who were genuinely committed and tried their very best. But by the time they arrived, too much damage had already been done.
So let’s be clear about where accountability actually lies: with the leadership, and with those governors who enabled him. Not with the parents who raised the alarm.
Why could Rob not retain any teachers during his entire tenure? The best teachers left under upsetting and mysterious circumstances when they had shown a level of commitment to the school and it’s community he had never shown. He hemaoraged staff, from all areas of the school and has multiple complaints from staff against him. These staff exits weren’t just churn when a new head joins they were consistent throughout his entire employment. The school was financially sinking under the amount of agency fees he was paying for supply staff through patching up his inability to build a cohesive teaching community. This is a fundamental component of being an effective school headteacher, if you cannot retain teachers the school is utterly ineffective.