Statutory notice on the proposed closure of Homewood College

We’ve published a statutory notice on the proposal to close Homewood College, a small specialist school for pupils with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs in Queensdown Road, Brighton.

Homewood College has been in the Ofsted category of ‘inadequate: special measures’ since December 2021 and despite the efforts of school leaders, staff and support from the council, the school has not made sufficient improvement.

Following consultation with parents and carers of pupils and school staff early this year, no further places were commissioned at the school for the term staring in September. There are currently no pupils registered at the school.

The publication of the notice marks the start of a 4 week representation period offering residents a further chance to comment on the proposal to close the school at the end of December 2024.

We want to hear from pupils, parents and carers, staff and local residents. Your feedback is vital in helping us understand the potential impacts of the proposal and inform the decision making process.

The statutory notice period ends at 5pm on Monday 4 November 2024.

Improving the educational offer in the city 

The proposal to close the school is part of a range of changes being introduced to improve the educational offer to pupils for the remainder of their schooling.

Council Deputy Leader, Councillor Jacob Talyor, said: “While proposing to close a school is a difficult decision, our priority duty is to ensure we’re providing the best possible education to meet the identified social, emotional and mental health needs of all pupils.

“We have worked with the parents and carers of pupils who were at the school and are happy to report that all children have alternative offers in place

“From this school year, we have introduced a new model of provision which allows us to offer more flexible and inclusive options for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs in the city.

“However, we recognise there’s a need for further provision in and we’re working on providing additional capacity to meet the SEMH needs of children and young people in the city.”

Consultation process

When a local authority proposes to close a school, it must carry out a period of statutory consultation.

A city-wide consultation on the proposals took place in the summer, which included 2 engagement events for pupils, parents and carers, staff and local residents to discuss the proposals.

We received a total of 19 responses to that consultation.

  • 10 responses (53%) stated that they did not agree that the council should close Homewood College.
  • 3 responses (16%) stated that the school should close
  • 6 responses (31%) stated that they were not sure

Respondents expressed concern over the future of Homewood College and its students and staff, with many highlighting the necessity of the specialist SEMH provision the college offers.

Responders also highlighted that remaining provision may not adequately address the needs of children requiring specialist education.

The statutory notice representation period is a required step in the Department for Education's guidance in closing a school.

Following the end of the representation period, the final recommendations on the closures will go back to the council’s Cabinet in November.

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