Parents to fight Peacehaven schools merger

Parents, governors and staff in Peacehaven are holding a public meeting to oppose the proposed merger of two schools.

The meeting on Wednesday (11 January) comes after more than 700 people – or more than 95 per cent of respondents – opposed the merger when consulted about it by East Sussex County Council.

Despite the overwhelming opposition the council is pushing ahead with the merger of Peacehaven Infant School and Hoddern Junior.

They are due to close at the end of August and reopen at the start of September with a single head teacher and a joint management team.

The council believes that the proposed merger will raise standards and be more efficient. The schools will remain on separate sites.

Phil Clarke, secretary of the local National Union of Teachers branch, said: “It is disappointing that a public campaign needs to be started to get the council to listen to the views of parents.

“It is widely recognised how well the schools work together already and parents have shown overwhelmingly they do not agree with amalgamating the schools.”

He said that the final insult was that at least £30,000 would be paid to contractors simply to change the school’s name because there was a PFI (private finance initiative) contract.

No changes to the building would be made and the figure could double if payment was needed for each school.

The meeting is at the Meridian Centre at 4pm on Wednesday.