Council supports campaign to prevent academisation of Peacehaven Heights Primary School

At a meeting, the town council gave unanimous backing to a motion to support the campaign

The motion commits the town council to writing to the decision makers at East Sussex County Council.

The letter will state that the town council does not support the academisation of Peacehaven Heights School and demand the following:

• That a new substantive headteacher be recruited through interviews at Peacehaven Heights as soon as possible

• That a parent’s forum be setup at Peacehaven Heights School

• That a normal governing body is immediately re-instituted

Speaking in reaction to the news, Vicky Hawkins, whose son attends the school, said: “It is reassuring to finally have elected representatives who are not only listening but actually representing our views, as opposed to the ESCC councillors.”

Chris Collier, district councillor for Peacehaven East Ward, said: “It’s really good news that the town councillors have supported this motion, which at its heart is about keeping the school accountable to the local community it serves.

“We’ve all witnessed what happens when decision making is handed over to an IEB, with the destruction of the swimming pool.

“That the town council has now stated that it does not support the academisation of Peacehaven Height, should send a very clear signal to the East Sussex county councillors that their policy of academisation is not welcome here.”