Fewer than 40 children are currently attending a troubled school slated for closure, council papers reveal.
Of the 37 children still at Middle Street Primary School, 27 are in year six and about to move on to secondary school – with all other years having just one or two pupils each.
A special meeting of Brighton and Hove City Council has been called for Thursday, 21 May, to debate closing Middle Street Primary School from the end of the academic year – Monday, 31 August.
The public have had four weeks to respond to the statutory notice to close the school, a process which began in January.
An interim executive board (IEB) was appointed in June 2025 following concerns about governance and financial viability
The school also built up a budget deficit, believed to be around £400,000 in the space of two years.
The report published ahead of next week’s meeting said: “In response to the fall in primary numbers both in Brighton and Hove and nationally, and the consequential impact on schools’ finances and the council’s own funding position, in addition to specific school-based specific factors, it is proposed that Middle Street Primary School is closed.
“This proposal will assist in addressing the number of unfilled places in the city, having considered the longer-term viability of the school in relation to pupil numbers, financial viability and the availability of places in the surrounding area.”
Following the statutory notice to close the school, there were 10 responses from individuals and one communal comment was signed by 22 people on behalf of the Middle Street Community.
The community representation noted the school’s rapid decline between late 2024 and early 2026 and wanted certainty that councillors had the full picture about what had happened.
In the report, the council acknowledged that before January 2026, there was no sign the IEB governing board had considered closing the school as it was considering federation with another school.
However, when it became clear just three families were considering the school for their reception-age children for September 2026, Middle Street would not be viable.
School funding is based primarily on pupil numbers.
The council was also asked what alternatives were considered, and the council say no multi-academy trust (MAT) was willing to absorb a school with a financial deficit of the scale projected for Middle Street, believed to be more than £400,000.
Individual responders suggested making some of the city’s three-form entry schools into two-form entry, which is something the council has been doing since 2019.
One of the responders said: “This closure is not an unavoidable outcome — it is the result of failure.
“Middle Street was not historically an under-subscribed school.
“It had a waiting list and a strong, positive reputation. It is a unique, central Brighton school offering exceptional opportunities such as beach school and strong SEN provision.
“It is a vital part of the community.”
If councillors agree to close the school, 21 of the 35 staff posts will be at risk of redundancy.
The council will recommend that affected staff have priority consideration for roles at other schools.
The council has forecast there will be 482 empty spaces in reception classes across the city in September 2026, rising to 638 in September 2027.
There are 442 available spaces in primary schools across all years within one and a half miles of Middle Street.
The council would have to seek permission from the Department for Education before it could sell the site or turn it into housing.
People have until noon on Friday, 15 May to submit questions, deputations and petitions ahead of the special meeting.
The meeting is due to start at 3pm at Brighton Town Hall on Thursday, 21 May. The meeting is scheduled for webcast.
