I would like to congratulate all the staff, governors and parents of the Balfour Infants and Junior schools who fought such a successful campaign to stop the proposed merger of the two schools.

In sheer desperation, the action group Bagam was set up because the Labour administration and the education department seemed determined to ignore their concerns.

They worked extremely hard and became a very determined, cohesive and well-organised force to put their views and concerns across.

The independent government adjudicator recognised there were insufficient sound educational reasons for the merger because they were

two high-achieving, oversubscribed schools and has rejected the proposal.

After all these months of worry and uncertainty, both schools can now get on with what they do best - educating the local children to a high standard in a caring environment. I wish them well.

-Coun Vanessa Brown, Conservative deputy leader and education spokeswoman, Brighton and Hove City Council