Support a new secondary school for Brighton

Following Brighton & Hove City Council's forecast of a pressing need for new school places to meet the predicted numbers of 11 to 16-year-olds in the next few years, the University of Brighton was approached by the council to submit a proposal to sponsor such a school, through the University of Brighton Academies Trust.

The council's Policy and Resources Committee has given unanimous support to the proposal and the next step is to enlist support of parents and carers whose children may have the opportunity to attend the new school in years to come.

Brochures entitled 'A New Secondary School for Brighton' are being distributed to head teachers and governors from Tuesday, 21 April, with a request that they be passed to parents and carers of children who will be due to start year 7 in September 2018 or 2019.

The brochure is designed to answer questions and on the inside back cover there will be a survey which parents and carers can complete and return to the university. Alternatively, the brochure provides details of an online survey which can be completed at www.brighton.ac.uk/secondarysurvey.

A reminder postcard will be available for circulation during the week commencing 5 May, 2015.

Paul Griffiths, Chief Executive of the University of Brighton Academies Trust said: "This is an important development which will help to meet the future educational needs of the children of Brighton. With the support of the local council we aim to provide a new, state of the art learning environment and create the conditions that will support high attainment and enable our young people to achieve their full potential."

The council’s director of children’s services, Pinaki Ghoshal, said:

“Our pupil projections are telling us clearly that we need around 300 new secondary school places in the coming years.

“With this in mind we very much support the university’s plan to create a new secondary school in the city and are delighted to be working jointly with them on this project.

The University of Brighton has an excellent track record in running schools that deliver a first class education and show a real commitment to their wider community.”