Brighton primary schools at risk of closure by council Brighton News

There has been a 22 per cent fall in the youngest age children in the 2021 census. Now, the council say St Bartholomew’s C of E Primary School and St Peter’s Community Primary School in the city now face closure with over 200 places cut from other schools.

Councillor Jacob Taylor, deputy leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, said: “There’s no easy solution to falling pupil numbers, and no one wants to talk about school closures.

“But having very high numbers of unfilled school places isn’t something we can allow to continue and as a responsible council, we must take decisive action.

St Peter’s Community Primary School in Portslade

“The issue has been kicked down the road for too long and we must act in the interests of children who will be denied support if the problem isn’t addressed.”

The council says that currently one in five school places are empty and more than 650 could be left empty by 2025.

Under the plans being considered next week by councillors, St Bartholomew’s in Ann Street and St Peter’s in St Peter’s Road, Portslade, would be closed in September 2025.

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Brunswick Primary, Rudyard Kipling Primary and Saltdean Primary are among the primary schools facing reduced places.

Following a meeting of the council’s Children, Families and Schools Committee on November 6, a public consultation will be launched.

Cllr Jacob Taylor

Cllr Taylor added: “If we want to secure the long-term future of our schools we must act now and take these extremely tough decisions. Doing nothing and hoping the situation improves or goes away is not an option.

“I fully recognise and understand the huge pressures headteachers face every day in running their schools, and as a council we want to support them as much as possible.

“We will be talking very closely with school heads and governing boards, and I hope they are prepared to work with us and make decisions that support primary and secondary education throughout the city.”