Deaf school to close over decline in pupil numbers

Hamilton Lodge School and College in Brighton will close on 31 August 2025

A deaf school in East Sussex is to close due to a decline in the number of pupils.

Hamilton Lodge School and College in Brighton has been providing education and care for deaf children aged between five and 19 for more than 80 years.

It will close on 31 August 2025.

The British Deaf Association (BDA) said it strongly objected to the closure, stating that “every deaf child has an inherent right to access education in their natural language, British Sign Language (BSL)”.

The school, part of the Hamilton Lodge Trust charity, said it was with “great sadness” that trustees announced the closure.

“The school is closing due to the decline in pupils numbers over time,” a spokeswoman said.

“The trust will continue with its primary aim of supporting the deaf community in a format that will be decided after the stakeholder consultation ends in December 2024.”

'Essential institution'

The institution also provides residential care for young people, who are housed in separate houses according to gender, age and need.

The BDA said it strongly objected to the closure and called on the government to explore how the school could continue to serve the deaf community.

“While we recognise the challenges involved, we urge a thorough review of alternatives that would allow this essential institution to continue its vital work,” a BDA spokesman said.

“The closure of Hamilton Lodge underscores the urgent need for the government and local authorities to address the decreasing number of specialist educational provisions for deaf children.”

The charity added that closures meant deaf children faced significant barriers to reach their full potential, both academically and socially.

The Department for Education said it would be working with the school, local authorities, parents and learners to “ensure positive outcomes are achieved” for pupils to transfer into suitable alternative provision.