Two Brighton and Hove primary schools are slated to close next summer as pupil numbers across the city continue to fall.
Parents at St Bartholomews’s Primary School in Ann Street and another, as yet unnamed, school are being informed this week of Brighton and Hove City Council’s plans.
Both have been selected as they are undersubscribed and there are other schools within a mile which have the space to take on extra pupils.
But it won’t be possible to send all the children to any one school, meaning classes – and with them friendships – will be broken up next September.
Meanwhile, Brighton and Hove News understands that a number of other primary schools are being asked to reduce their intakes from September 2025.
A consultation on the plans is due to start next week – but it’s feared that even before that’s finished in December, parents will begin to pull their children out and prospective parents apply elsewhere for reception places next year, making the move inevitable.
In a letter sent to parents at St Bartholomew’s by Deb Austin, the council’s executive director for families, children and learning, said: “The school has much lower numbers of pupils compared to many other schools in the city.
“There are also more school places available in the local area than pupils who need them.
“I appreciate this is very upsetting news and will be a shock, especially the timescale being proposed.
“But please be assured that if a decision is made to close St Bartholomew’s, your child’s move to another school will be very carefully managed to minimise the impact of that.”
A second letter from head teacher Katie Blood and chair of governors Father Ben Eadon says they are “deeply saddened”.
It says: “We are also angry that they would choose to do this to your children and we will do all we can to oppose this proposal and overturn it.
“Since the news was shared with us, we have spent many hours in meetings trying to stop this happening.
It adds: “We have an overspend in our budget this year but this is due to the funding formula which has resulted in us being funded for far fewer pupils than we actually have (due to the timing of budget decisions) and because we are committed to supporting pupils with specific needs, even though the funding received from the council doesn’t always cover the full cost of the support required.
“The council have always been grateful for us supporting these pupils and have often asked us to take specific pupils so it is unfortunate to see how this is now proving to undermine the future of our school.”
The full plans, including the name of the second school, will be outlined in a report to the council’s children, families and schools committee published tomorrow ahead of a meeting next Monday.
The council has been trying to tackle the thorny issue of falling pupil numbers for several years, with a report in 2021 saying one in five places across the city would have to go by 2025.
Some undersubscribed schools have agreed to reduce intakes but others – particularly in Brighton’s suburbs and estates – have resisted the plans.
In 2021, the council said it would try to persuade larger, oversubscribed schools to reduce their numbers so that more pupils would end up going to smaller, less popular schools.
It seems a shame as this school had a good oftsed rating. There are plenty of worse schools in the city.
So? Logical fallacy.
Such sad news, a great school.
This is such sad news – Katie Blood is a great head and it’s a lovely, kind school with very committed staff.
St Bartholomew’s is a much loved school which is well known for offering excellent care to children with special educational needs. It will be a great shame to lose such an asset in the local community.
This is so very sad to read. The emotional damage this will cause is unimaginable, especially for those children who are exceptionally vulnerable.
Funding shouldn’t even be an issue when it comes to educating our future generations
A tregedy if it does close. A great school , dedicated staff and a historic church next to it . There must be worse schools to close if needs be .
What is relevance of the nearby church here ?
The inner city is being starved of children because the Council encourages the break-up of family homes into smaller units . These units expand housing numbers and are occupied by students. Younger couples who would in the past lives and brought up children have to move outside the city . At one time Hanover for example was a vital community full of young families. No more.
It is not the council that defines overall housing policy and associated planning decisions.
This, to me, serves as yet another indicator of the housing crisis, which is particularly pronounced in Brighton. The absence of affordable mortgage rates and reasonable rental costs may discourage new families from settling, resulting in the unfortunate prospect of school closures, as elaborated upon in the linked source. While local government endeavours to acquire additional properties, it’s essentially a minor step in addressing the issue until a comprehensive strategy from the central government takes shape.
School places were dramatically increased to accommodate EU migrants. These kids have now grown up and are not being replaced so it is natural the number of places needs to be reduced. Sad for these kids but at least they will be moving with many of their classmates and they will make new friends very quickly in most cases at this age.
I apologise for any confusion, but the data suggests that the primary factor at play here is the availability of housing stock. While I share your belief that children can adapt to new environments swiftly, my concern lies in the clear indication that our housing supply is falling significantly short of what is required. This shortfall is leading to a decline in the availability of essential services like schools.
As a former Primary School teacher . I firmly believe in small schools and smaller classes . The early years are so important to give our young ones the opportunity to work together in a family environment where learning gives confidence and pleasure and the strength to them progress to the more formal ,often very large classes where individuals with difficulties often get less help and overlooked because there is just too much for the classroom practitioner to cope with . A strong beginning gives a child the initiative to ask questions, ask for help and not be afraid to be different and make themselves known in a good way and not through poor behaviour to draw attention to themselves. Having a good solid start in a small Family structured school , which many children do not experience at home, they become themselves and are therefore able to express how they feel,sad, confused , worried ,unsure, or happy , confident, questioning and kind to themselves and others around them . Small is protective , valuable, and safe where a new starter fits into a happy start to a long school life ……our most important years for our minds to develop. Nana Linda.
Whilst I agree with small classes, and the evidence base very much supports your comments, my concern is on the citywide issue of this being a response to a lack of available long-term housing. We have some very severe examples of this happening in smaller locales, become ghost towns. They share similar steps, such as reducing and closing schools.
My Mother and all her siblings went to this school and then I an many of my cousins and there children attended the school. I then had the joy of being a governor until I retired a few years ago. This school has so much care for its pupils. It is a mainstay of the local community. Its teachers are utterly driven by care for those in their charge. Katie Blood is an exceptional Head Teacher who it was a joy to work with. Closing this school will be a huge mistake.
The other school is St Peter’s in Portslade. Parents found out at lunchtime today.
This is very sad news. St Bartholomews has always been a good school with dedicated staff, at the heart of the city. While I recognise that falling rolls are a problem, it’s much better to support smaller primary schools than move children to larger schools, away from friends and further away from home.
Sad news indeed – my son went to St Barts and had a great primary education there – it is a really caring school that is firmly rooted in the community with excellent teachers and head. In some ways its size is its strength, because everyone knows and looks out for everyone…
My child goes to this school and I’m devastated at the news all the staff are amazing the school is amazing I hope it doesn’t go ahead and close this will have a devastating impact on a lot of families
We parents at the school are devastated.
The school is so kind, caring and nurturing to all the children. They go above and beyond for all the children.
Comments about children easily adapting is only for some children, lots of children, can’t or find it hard to do so – mine being one of them.
I know there are more schools in the area but finding one that suits these children is really hard and children won’t necessarily be placed with their friends at all.
This is truely sad news. St barts is one of the best schools and my daughter has done so much progress there. The teachers and everyone is committed to every child’s learning and always makes sure that they have everything they need and all their needs met. My daughter has a few problems learning and health wise but st barts has been amazing with her and I’m glad I put her in that school I hope this don’t close I’ll be deeply saddened like all the other parents there
Parents are gutted to hear the news this could happen.
It might be a small school and numbers but all the kids day to day needs are meet ans they are growing and learning in each year.
Both my daughters have grown in this school and made them ready or getting ready for secondary .
The teachers are amazing and go above and beyond and always ready to help
The whole school from the head,teachers,helpers,assistants,office and clean do an amazing job for the school and the kids ans the parents.
Such a shame if this closure goes ahead! Many parents and children will be so sad to see this happen! St Bartholomews is a very kind, friendly, understanding and attentive, professional school with so many more positive attributes! My daughter has special needs and that department works brilliantly with the SEN children! Both my children love this school as does myself and many other families! PLEASE HELP TO KEEP OUR SCHOOL OPEN!
I have been a governor here for the last 5 years and have seen it go from strength to strength. It has some of the most disadvantaged children in the city and the wonderful staff work wonders with them. The council even recognises and quotes it as fulfilling the council’s objectives on multi cultural education and yet they seem only to be able to think in terms of numbers. They have not given any guarantee that support will continue in their new schools and they won’t do that until the decision has been made. Such great planning and reassurance.
What is the Church of England thinking not protecting its long established school that has close links to the Church too…please help,save it!