A new governing body has been appointed to oversee a special needs school after many of the governors stood down.

Homewood College in Brighton is under threat of closure after a consultation about stopping admissions to the school and finding alternative educational placements for those currently studying there.

The school caters for children with special educational and mental health needs but was rated inadequate by Ofsted in 2021 and has been in special measures ever since.

The school has been subject to an academy order, a legal instruction which leads to schools academising for more than two years. Academies are funded and controlled directly by the central government and run by academy trusts rather than the local authority.

But no academy trust has been willing to take over the running of the school on a permanent basis.

Councillor Jacob Taylor, co-chairman of the children, families and schools committee, said: “The council has worked rapidly to appoint a new governing body for Homewood College. 

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“I’m confident that we’ve appointed strong leaders with a wide range of expertise to support the school in the challenging circumstances the school is facing. We will be making sure robust support is in place so they can fulfil their roles as governors of Homewood College.

“Our first priority remains to make sure we’re providing the best possible education to meet the identified social, emotional and mental health needs of all the pupils. That’s why we’ve also ensured that an independent safeguarding and health and safety review has taken place. 

“I appreciate this remains an unsettling time for the parents and carers and staff at Homewood College. We’re continuing discussions with the Regional Office for Education (DfE) about the future of the school and hope to provide more information as soon as possible to those affected.” 

A spokesman for Homewood College thanked the former governors for their work.

He said: “School governors are unpaid volunteers and we are extremely grateful to them for the time and expertise they have given us.

“We are working closely with colleagues at Brighton and Hove local authority and expect to have new governors appointed shortly as part of a new interim executive board. We will provide an update on this in due course.”