Have your say on school catchment areas

Consultation begins today (Monday 2 October) on proposals for making future changes to school admissions arrangements in Brighton & Hove.

‘Light-touch’ temporary changes are proposed for secondary school catchment areas. These changes would take effect for a period of two-years starting in September 2019.

Brighton & Hove residents are also being asked for their views on proposals to reduce admissions numbers at five primary schools in the city.

The schools are:

• Coombe Road Primary
• Moulsecoomb Primary
• Benfield Primary
• Hertford Infant
• West Hove Infant (Connaught Road site)

The forecasts for future pupil numbers at primary level indicate that there will be a reduction in numbers across Brighton & Hove in the coming years.  This follows an increase in pupil numbers in recent years. The aim is to ensure future viability of all the city’s primary age schools.

Rising pupil numbers are causing pressure on school places in some catchment areas. This, along with the decision by the Education and Skills Funding Agency to delay the opening of the new University of Brighton Academies Trust secondary free school, have prompted catchment area proposals for secondary schools to be brought in.

The proposals, deliberately designed to be ‘light-touch’, and to take into account as many factors as possible – including travel times and accessibility.

A series of public meetings are being held throughout the consultation period. They will offer residents the opportunity to find out more about the proposals and discuss them with council representatives.

The following public meetings have been confirmed:

The consultation ends on the 19 November 2017.

To give your views on the proposals, visit the council’s website

By Clare Calder