On 16 March 2010 East Sussex County Council's Lead Member for Learning and School Effectiveness approved the publication of statutory notices for the proposal to close Hampden Park Infant School and Highfield Junior School and replace them with a new all-through community primary school – called Heron Park Community Primary School. This followed a period of consultation between 4 January and 15 February 2010 when we asked for your views on the proposal.
Following the Lead Member decision, the Council applied to the Secretary of State for exemption from competition, meaning the Council would be able to establish the new school as a community school. The Council was granted consent to publish proposals for a new community primary school by the Secretary of State in November 2010.
On 21 January 2011 the Council published statutory notices for the closure of Hampden Park Infant School and Highfield Junior School and the establishment of a new community primary school on the Highfield Junior School site.
From 21 January 2011 you had six weeks to comment on the proposals. A copy of the statutory notice and full proposals are available to download below.
What happens next
At the end of the six week period the Council passed the proposals, together with any comments and objections, to the Schools Adjudicator who has now approved the creation of the new primary school subject to planning permission. The intention is for the new school to open in September 2011 under a new name.
Initially all pupils from both schools will be able to be accommodated on the Highfield site following improvements to learning areas both indoors and outside. By 2014-15 the school will operate at full capacity for which a small extension of three classrooms will be required.
Enquiries
Melanie Griffin
Head of Capital Strategy Team
Children's Services Department
County Hall, St Anne's Crescent
Lewes, BN7 1UE
Tel: 01273 335819
Email: schoolsamp@eastsussex.gov.uk
East Sussex County Council