Parents debate schools merger

Some speakers claimed a merger would provide continuity for children while opponents said the school would become too big.

Brighton and Hove City Council is considering combining Balfour Infant and Junior schools in Brighton into one primary school for children aged five to 11.

Parents, residents, staff and governors from both schools were at last night's meeting at the junior school in Balfour Road.

The new school would have about 790 pupils at first but plans to reduce the annual intake of new pupils from 120 to 90 will eventually lead to a school size of about 630.

Classroom sizes are expected to range between 30 and 32, compared with the existing 35 and 36.

Those for the merger said it would remove the annual problem of finding enough places for infant school children at the junior school.

At the moment the infant school takes in 120 pupils each year while the junior school can accommodate only 90.

Parent James Malone said: "It is very distressing for children who have to go to other schools.

"It can also make things extremely difficult for parents, especially if they have more than one child and have to travel between schools.

"Having one through school makes much more sense and will be easier for everyone."

Brighton and Hove director of education David Hawker told the meeting the city council believed the merger was the best option for both schools. There were no plans for redundancies.

He said: "The transfer issue between the infant and junior schools has been one that has worried the education authority for a long time."

Those against the merger feared class sizes would rise. There were also concerns that the atmosphere of the schools would be lost.

Parent Mary Ellis said: "These are both really good schools. The answer is surely to reduce the intake at the infant school to 90 so all children can transfer to the junior school."

A final decision will be made in October or November. If the merger goes ahead the new primary school would open in September 2002.