Academies are state funded, all ability schools. They are under the control of sponsors who come from a wide range of backgrounds. The sponsors in Hastings are the University of Brighton, BT and East Sussex County Council.
The signing of the funding agreement for the new academies by the Government is a significant and major milestone in the project and signals the green light for more than £40m worth of investment in the two new 21st century schools.
East Sussex County Council's Cabinet agreed to close Filsham Valley, The Grove and Hillcrest Schools on 31 August 2011 so that they may be replaced by two academies on 1 September 2011. The Cabinet meeting took place on 26 January 2010.
On the eastern side of the town the proposal is for a brand new academy on the Hillcrest School site which will accommodate 900 pupils aged 11 to 16.
On the western side of the town the new academy will provide for 1,500 pupils aged 11 to 16 and will replace The Grove and Filsham Valley Schools.
Both of the new academies are expected to open in 2011. They will be state-funded, non-selective schools and each will be fully inclusive with improved special educational needs facilities incorporated into each.
All the students currently at these schools would automatically transfer to their academy in September 2011.
The decision to create these academies followed extensive consultation which started on 7 September through to 19 October 2009, followed by a further six week period from 2 December 2009 to 13 January 2010. Many hundreds of local people have had an opportunity to make their views known. You can see all the reports and a summary of the responses received on the links at the foot of this page.
During the period of construction of the new schools particular attention will be paid to ensuring minimal disruption to students' learning. Hillcrest students will transfer to the new academy on the existing site when it is ready.
The sponsors will be recruiting and appointing a chief executive with responsibility for both the academies. It is hoped that this person will be in post by September and that the two principals, one for each of the academies, will be in post by January 2011. This would then mean that the key leaders are in place well before the formal opening of both academies.
Further information and enquiries
East Sussex County Council