Council agrees to consider options in school consultation

A public consultation on plans to close two primary schools in Lewes will go ahead - but the council have agreed to consider alternative options during the process as well.
By The Newsroom
Published 25th Mar 2016, 10:00 BST

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Pells school, Lewes, facing closure SUS-160316-231512008Pells school, Lewes, facing closure SUS-160316-231512008
Pells school, Lewes, facing closure SUS-160316-231512008

At a meeting on Monday, March 21, East Sussex County Council’s lead member for education and inclusion, special educational needs and disability, Cllr Nick Bennett, was asked to approve a public consultation on the proposed closure of Pells CE and Rodmell CE Primary School.

It was agreed the local authority takes forward statutory processes to consult on the closures and that the local authority also fully considers proposals coming from the schools or other consultees around federation or amalgamation which will lead to a sustainable solution.

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A campaign to stop the closures of the two schools has received back from across the political spectrum.

Maria Caulfield MP said: “I was very happy to sign the petition and I am encouraging everyone involved to make their views known to the county council as part of the consultation process. I will continue to work with parents on this important matter.”

Shirley Sains, Lib Dem candidate in the Castle by-election, said: “I’m really concerned by news that the county council plan to close Pells School in August 2017.

“I and many others are outraged by this and I will fight to try and make sure this much-needed school stays open. My three children went to Pells School and having lived in Lewes as a Landport resident for 49 years, I know how much people on Landport value this school.”

Details of the consultation will be made available soon.

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The petition is at www.change.org/p/councillor-nick-bennett-stop-east-sussex-county-council-s-plans-to-shut-rodmell-c-of-e-school.

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