Fears for vulnerable pupils as Brighton school threatened with closure

The headteacher of a Brighton primary school threatened with closure due to declining pupil numbers says she's concerned that her most vulnerable pupils could suffer.

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School in Hollingdean is under consultation to close next summer following a 29% surplus in places, which they've described as a "direct consequence of the significant challenges faced by falling rolls across the city."

Since, staff and parents have launched a campaign calling on decision makers to cancel the consultation - with headteacher Gillian Foan telling Greatest Hits Radio a key concern is what will happen to the support offered to those who need it most.

She explained that while some children with additional needs have Education, Health and Care plans to facilitate their movement to a new setting, others have have "social, emotional and mental health" needs that are supported "because we know our cohort":

"Those are the students we worry about the most."

"They're going to go into a new school, new curriculum possibly, new teachers, new friends, a new routine in the morning and at the end of the school day.

"We're worried their attendance might drop or their mental health will suffer."

Since launching the campaign to "Save Our School", the school community at St Josephs have organised peaceful protests, made themed cookies and most recently, written their own parody version of the Nativity movie's '"Nazareth".

Gillian said: "Our children wanted a voice as well, and they've felt a little overlooked

"They've been sending me notes daily asking to Save Our School... then I said we should put this into a song.

"They did rewrite the song in part of their lessons and one of the student teachers can play the guitar.

"We were hoping it would get lots of hits so our children would have a voice."