Special school earmarked for closure by council

Brighton and Hove City Council plans to close Homewood College in December

A special school in East Sussex has been earmarked for closure.

Brighton and Hove City Council plans to close Homewood College in December – three years after it was rated as being inadequate by Ofsted.

The council’s new cabinet has been asked to approve the necessary statutory consultation process.

The authority has stopped sending children to the school, which is not expected to have any pupils by the start of the new academic year in September.

The college, in Queensdown School Road, caters for children aged 11-16 who have additional social, emotional and mental health needs.

In the current academic year, it has 35 pupils, with 13 about to move on to post-16 education.

At the end of the 2022/23 financial year, it had a cumulative overspend of £343,000, which is expected to rise to £709,000 at the end of the current school year.

'No decision'

A visit by Ofsted in December found that attendances were poor and staff turnover was high, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

“The quality of education at the school, as well as attendance by pupils, has been declining,” the report said.

Proposals to the council’s cabinet include expanding the pupil referral unit (PRU) in Lynchet Close, Hollingdean, to provide a total of 24 places.

A further 20 places are also being commissioned through the Beckmead Academy Trust at the former PRU at St George’s House in Dyke Road, Brighton.

However, a further 50 specialist school places would be needed, with plans to offer these in partnership with a neighbouring county council.

Brighton and Hove City Council said: “At present no decision has been made and the school remains open.

“The educational needs of every child at Homewood College will be fully considered before any final decision is taken.

"If closure is eventually approved we will work hard to ensure no student’s education will be negatively impacted as a result.”