Plans to merge two primary schools to be considered

Image source, LDRS

Image caption, Burfield Academy's drop off facility was considered a health and safety concern by the schools trust
  • Author, Huw Oxburgh
  • Role, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Plans to formally merge two Hailsham primary schools are set to go in front of a senior county councillor.

East Sussex County Council鈥檚 lead member for education, Bob Standley will consider a request to amalgamate Burfield Academy with Phoenix Academy.

The two schools, which are both part of the Step Academy Trust, are already sharing a single site in Marshfoot Lane.

The co-location was introduced in September 2023 to allow for extensive remedial works to be carried out to the Burfield Academy building in Oaklands Way.

Following this, the academy trust sought permission to change the drop-off arrangements at the Oaklands Way site due to health and safety concerns.

But the council refused this planning permission, saying the academy trust had not provided enough information to justify the change or show it would "not give rise to increased hazards".

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the trust criticised this decision, arguing it had left the site 鈥渙perationally unsuitable for use as a primary school鈥.

However the council thought it may have been possible to find an alternative solution with further work.

Now the academy trust is seeking permission to merge the schools, effectively closing down Burfield Academy.

The Department for Education will have the ultimate say on whether the request can move ahead or not.

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