Proposal made to close school site and expand the other amid fall in pupil numbers

Plans are being made to close a school site and expand another amid a fall in pupil numbers.

Brighton and Hove City Council is looking to consolidate Hove Park School onto a single site at its Nevill Campus.

The school currently operates across two sites – Valley Campus, on Hangleton Way, and Nevill Campus, on Nevill Road. Plans look to bring the two sites together from September 2028.

The council said the Valley Campus will be “released for disposal” – a generic term, the council said, which means that the site will no longer be used by Hove Park School.

An initial consultation on the proposal was carried out last year between April 22 and June 3, 2025, however most residents who responded opposed the plans – raising a number of concerns.

Figures found that 60% of respondents were opposed to the proposal, 22% were unsure and 18% were in support.

The consultation looks to shut the Valley Campus site

Many residents raised fears for how the merge could affect traffic congestion and make journeys less safe for children walking or cycling. There were also concerns about transport and accessibility for pupils living further away from the Nevill Campus.

A major concern among respondents to the consultation was the loss of the Valley Campus, including its sports facilities and offering for SEND pupils.

Many families felt having two campuses allowed an easier transition from primary to secondary school for younger students, therefore reducing anxiety and creating a nurturing environment.

There were particular fears for how this could impact children with additional needs, with fears a single, larger campus would be overwhelming.

It was also felt that any recent investments in the Valley Campus would be wasted.

Additionally, feedback also found concerns over the absence of preliminary drawings and design plans for the Nevill Road works, which made it difficult for respondents to assess the full implications of the proposals.

In response to this, the council commissioned architectural designs for the Nevill Road Campus ahead of re-consulting in an attempt to give a clearer picture of what the consolidated school would look like.

Drawings show plans for a new 3G pitch, an extension to the canteen and several teaching areas. Decisions on the building work would be subject to planning permission.

Plans for Hove Park School, Nevill Campus (Image: Brighton and Hove City Council)

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The proposal comes amid declining school enrolment across the city, which affects the amount of funding schools can access. Hove Park is among those affected by this, which in turn has resulted in increasing budgetary pressures at the school.

In response to these changes, the school’s maximum intake was previously reduced from 300 to 180 students per year group.

The school leadership, governors and council said they are “firmly committed to maintaining Hove Park School’s distinctive culture and ethos throughout the transition”, pledging to both preserve and enhance the education provided.

The council also said that there is a strong commitment to ensuring that all current enrichment opportunities and experiences will continue to be available to students.

Councillor Jacob Taylor, Deputy Leader of the Council, said: “We’re seeking feedback on these proposals which aim to address falling pupil numbers at Hove Park School, as reflected in its recent PAN reduction from September 2026.

“This is a really exciting opportunity for us to improve operational efficiency at Hove Park School while maintaining its distinctive culture and ethos and protecting educational quality for its pupils.

“We want to hear from parents and carers, students, school staff and governors and local residents about these proposals to ensure any final plans reflect the needs of Hove Park School’s community.”

Plans for Hove Park School, Nevill Campus (Image: Brighton and Hove City Council)

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The school leadership said the proposal is an “exciting opportunity” and said it is committed to a “transparent consultation process to address any concerns”.

A public consultation is open until May 25 where the public can share their view on the updated proposal. See https://yourvoice.brighton-hove.gov.uk/ to comment online.

The council is also hosting several in-person and online engagement events over the next few weeks, with information available on the Brighton and Hove City Council website.

They are:

Thursday 23 April 2026 – 9am at Hove Park School, Valley Campus, Hove, BN3 8AD

Monday 27 April 2026 – 9am at Hove Park School, Nevill Campus, Hove, BN3 7BN

Wednesday 6 May 2026 – 4pm (online)

After the public consultation, the responses will be analysed, and a decision will be made whether to proceed with the publication of a statutory notice proposing closure of Valley Campus.

This would then be followed by a 4-week representation period from June 8 to July 6, during which further feedback about the proposal can be made.

Cabinet will then meet on July 16 to decide whether to go ahead with the proposal and to agree plans for the disposal of Valley Campus.

The decision is subject to planning permission as some building work would be required to create additional classrooms and facilities to accommodate the school’s pupils safely.

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