» No to Academy
Councillors are organising a public meeting to discuss concerns about Falmer School being turned into a city academy.
Brighton and Hove City Council’s Green Group are fearful that allowing a private company to sponsor the Moulsecoomb school could mean fewer choices for parents and allow the school to veer dangerously away from the national curriculum. Consultation over the plans is open until 4 July.
Businessman Rod Aldridge, former chairman of the Capita Group, is leading the bid and the school, which is near to the proposed Brighton and Hove Albion football stadium, would have a sports and entrepreneurship specialism.
If given the go-ahead, the school would remain open while building work is carried out and the Academy would be officially launched in 2010.
Councillor Ben Duncan, the Green’s prospective parliamentary candidate for Brighton Kemptown, said: “The biggest concern is the loss of a community school. The existing Falmer High School will close and the new academy will open, which will not be operated by the local authority.
“The local authority admission system will force children from Moulsecoomb. Coldean and surrounding areas to go to what is effectively an independent school, albeit a free one.“
Coun Duncan said there were worries that children will special educational needs could lose out. At the moment, more than half of Falmer’s pupils have SEN and the school is home to the Swan Centre, a unit for pupils from across Brighton and Hove who have special needs.
Speakers at the meeting will include Linda Newman, who attended Falmer and is the former president of the University and College Union, Rachel Fryer, the Green representative on the city council’s children and young people’s trust board, and a third person from the Anti Academies Alliance.
Public meeting, Learning Development Centre, Hodshrove Lane, Moulsecoomb, Mon 30 June, 7.30–9pm.
