Class Divide response to the Secondary school admission arrangements proposals in Brighton and Hove
Brighton & Hove stands at a crucial moment in its journey toward educational equity. On February 27th, councillors will vote on the most significant changes to our school admission system in nearly two decades. The proposals include groundbreaking steps like guaranteeing 30% of places for children eligible for free school meals - a policy that could transform opportunities for hundreds of families and set a national example for addressing educational inequality.
These changes come after years of community campaigning and mark the first serious attempt to tackle the deep inequalities in our city's education system. While some families currently have choice of multiple schools, others remain restricted to just one. The introduction of even a modest Open Admissions policy would begin to address this imbalance, offering families in single catchment areas their first real opportunity to access schools beyond their immediate neighbourhood.
As we approach this historic vote, the question isn't just about catchment lines and percentages - it's about what kind of education system we want for our city's children.
Here's our analysis of each element of the proposals and what they could mean for Brighton & Hove's families:
Proposal 3: Setting the allocation of Free School Meals (FSM) at 30%
The Council proposes using a fixed 30% figure rather than a changeable city average for FSM priority places.
The council's bold decision to increase the FSM allocation percentage demonstrates a strong commitment to addressing educational inequality in Brighton & Hove. This progressive step will create more balanced school communities and provide greater opportunities for children from low-income backgrounds. While this represents a significant change, evidence shows that mixed school communities benefit all students, both academically and socially. This decision puts Brighton & Hove at the forefront of educational equity in England, showing that our city is serious about creating a school system that works for everyone, regardless of their background.
Proposal 4 and 5: Introduction of new admission priority - Open Admission
The Council proposes introducing an Open Admission priority for families living in single school catchment areas.
The council's decision to introduce a 5% Open Admission priority represents a historic first step for educational equity in Brighton & Hove. While we had advocated for a higher percentage to create more opportunities for families in places like Moulscombe and Bevendean, establishing this principle in our admission system is significant - for the first time, families in single school catchment areas will have a real chance to access schools beyond their immediate neighbourhood.
This change, though modest in scale, sets an important precedent that challenges the link between housing wealth and school access. It demonstrates our city's willingness to begin addressing long-standing inequalities in our education system. The intense debate around this policy shows both the importance of the issue and the courage required to make even incremental changes to the status quo.
Looking ahead, we believe this 5% priority can provide valuable evidence of how increased choice benefits all our school communities, potentially paving the way for expanding the percentage in future years. While we would have preferred to see bolder action immediately, establishing the principle of Open Admissions marks meaningful progress toward making Brighton & Hove's schools work for everyone.
Proposals 6 & 7: Reducing Published Admission Numbers (PANs) at Blatchington Mill and Dorothy Stringer Schools
The council's decision to implement the proposed PAN reductions at Blatchington Mill and Dorothy Stringer demonstrates a clear understanding of the challenges facing our city's school system. These changes represent fair and reciprocal management of school places across Brighton & Hove, with larger schools that previously expanded during periods of growth now participating in necessary reductions as student numbers decline. This balanced approach helps protect all our schools, particularly those serving our most disadvantaged communities, from the damaging impact of falling rolls. Even with these reductions, both schools will remain among the largest in the country, while the changes help create a more sustainable system where all our city's schools can thrive.
Proposal 8: Reducing the Published Admission Number (PAN) at Longhill High School
The Council proposes a reduction in Longhill's admission numbers.
The council's decision to implement a PAN reduction at Longhill High School, represents a carefully balanced approach to managing our city's changing school population. This decision, if properly safeguarded, can help create a more sustainable future for the school while protecting its capacity to serve local families.
Proposal 9: Changes to Catchment Areas
The council's decision to implement all proposed catchment area changes marks a significant step toward addressing historical inequalities in our city's education system. For the Whitehawk community, which has carried the lasting impact of the COMART school closure since 2005, these changes create new pathways to educational opportunity. The redrawn boundaries will give local families access to a wider range of schools while maintaining important connections with existing local provision. However, the success of these changes depends entirely on the council's commitment to providing robust, affordable transport solutions and supporting families to understand and access their new choices. This isn't just about redrawing lines on a map - it's about creating genuine opportunities for community integration and educational equity.
Proposal 10. Increasing the number of preferences available from 3 to 4
The council's decision to increase the number of school preferences from 3 to 4 represents a positive step toward expanding choice for Brighton & Hove families. This change will give families more flexibility in expressing their preferences and encourage them to consider a wider range of schools. However, we believe the council could and should have gone further by allowing 5 preferences, particularly given the introduction of both FSM priority and Open Admission policies. With these new routes into schools, families need maximum flexibility to take full advantage of their options. Nevertheless, this increase to 4 preferences, combined with other changes, will help create a more open and accessible school system.
We await the vote
As councillors prepare to vote on February 27th, we ask them to consider whether these proposals truly deliver the fair education system our city needs. While elements like the FSM priority and catchment changes show real progress, the 5% Open Admission is only the start of meaningful reform. We’d like to continue working with the council to increase this percentage in future years to break down barriers to educational equity .
We know change isn't easy. We understand concerns about disruption. But we also know that maintaining a system where some families have choice while others don't goes against everything Brighton & Hove claims to stand for. The evidence is clear - when schools have a genuine mix of students from different backgrounds, everyone benefits. Academic results improve. Communities grow stronger. Our city becomes fairer.
For councillors, this vote isn't just about numbers and catchment lines. It's about whether we're serious about creating an education system that works for everyone, not just those who can afford to live in the right postcodes.
To the public, we promise to keep fighting for genuine educational choice for every family, regardless of where they live. We urge all councillors to support these proposals so that as a community we can continue to move forward as we create a more equal city for us all.