Hove schools to be merged into all-through primary

Two Hove schools are to merge from the start of the next calendar year.

Hangleton Infant School and Hangleton Junior School are to become Hangleton Primary School from Thursday 1 January 2015.

The change is taking place after the departure of junior school head Glenn Livingstone, who has been appointed executive head of the Grenestede Federation of two primary schools in East Grinstead. He joined Hangleton Junior School nearly nine years ago.

The new primary school will be run by Emma Lake, currently executive head of the infant school and Benfield Primary School in Portslade.

She will serve as interim head of the junior school during the autumn term.

Technically the junior school will be closed by Brighton and Hove City Council and the age range of the infant school will be expanded.

During an initial consultation just five people objected while 164 backed the change.

The council intends to publish a statutory notice about the proposed change early next month, giving people four weeks to respond.

The council’s Children and Young People Committee will then decide whether to go ahead with the proposal at a meeting on Monday 13 October.

The council said that it had had “a policy of supporting the amalgamation of infant and junior schools where appropriate since 2000”.

It added: “Each case for possible amalgamation is considered on its merits and any proposals for change are subject to public consultation.”

The new Hangleton Primary School will continue to have three classes in each year group – known as three forms of entry.

The council also said: “The governing bodies of both schools have been consulted before taking the decision to hold a public consultation.

“The initial view of both governing bodies is that they support the proposal to create an all-through primary school. Their views will be finalised in light of the consultation results.”