Sadness as Heathfield school closes forever

Year 6 pupils marked their last day at the school on Friday (July 17). They will now go on to Heathfield Community College.

Jo Brookbank, secretary for the school, said it was a ‘sad occasion’ – but the children were treated to a host of fun activities on their last few days. “The school is sadly closed now despite the parents, staff and governors’ fight against the consultation,” she told the Express.

“These were the last children to ever attend the school. On their last few days they enjoyed a leavers presentation, nerf war, water fight, Domino’s Pizza and Geno Gelato popped along with his lovely ice cream van.”

Year 6 pupils returned to the school on June 3, as lockdown restrictions were eased. Places had already been secured for all the other children in other years.

At a meeting in March, lead member for education Bob Standley confirmed East Sussex County Council would be moving ahead with plans to close Broad Oak at the end of the current school year.

The decision came after a potential rescue plan, which would have seen Broad Oak join with the Woodlands School Federation, and use its combined budget to address a shortfall in funding.

As part of this, Broad Oak would restructure its leadership team (to combine with the current federation of Dallington and Punnetts Town primary schools) and reduce down to just two classes of mixed year groups.

These proposals were not considered to be appropriate by the council, however, as Broad Oak would be left with little spare staff capacity and, even so, would still be running at a financial deficit due to low pupil numbers.

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