Options for Hove school site reduced, but frustration remains strong

The long-awaited new school in Brighton and Hove has moved a small step closer, but it will do little to ease the frustration at the length of the process.

It has been announced that the shortlist for the site of a new school has been reduced from four to two, with the remaining options named as a site at Hove Park Depot and at Hove Park Upper School.

The pressure on school places in the city is a point of considerable concern for many, as primary school children are often forced to travel miles to reach their allocated school. Parents have long campaigned for a new school and many have not been satisfied with the recent planned expansion of three schools, who have each agreed to take an extra 30 pupils. The schools are the Westdene, Goldstone and Queen’s Park primary schools

The topic of a new school in Brighton and Hove, where a controversial lottery system decides places, was hotly debated at Friday’s hustings in Hove, where Labour’s Celia Barlow seemed exasperated at the length of time it is taking the Conservative led council to decide on a site for a new school.

However, she faced criticism for Labour’s failure to foresee the problems in the city, which have come about partly due to a rise in the number of young children in Brighton and Hove, who are now reaching school age.

The BBC reports Di Smith, director of children’s services at Brighton and Hove City Council, as saying: “While we have listened to and sympathise with those parents who have concerns, the overall majority of parents support the expansion of local schools.

“The two shortlisted sites for a new school are the most feasible options open to us at present but both pose their own issues and challenges.”

The topic is due for debate at a council meeting on Monday.

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Posted by Joseph Lewis on April 24, 2010. Filed under Brighton and Hove News,Brighton Education News,Celia Barlow,Council News,Schools. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry