Parents in Brighton Push for Open Admissions to Secondary Schools

Brighton: Parents in east Brighton are really stepping up to voice their opinions about secondary school admissions. They want more options for their kids and are urging others to join in on a consultation that wraps up this week.

A group called Equity in Education formed just last month when the local council kicked off discussions about changing how secondary schools admit students. These parents, whose kids go to nearby primary schools, are mostly in the catchment area for Brighton Aldridge Community Academy (BACA), which limits their choices.

They’re backing a proposal for “open admission,” which has stirred up some debate among parents. This plan would allow kids from several catchments to have a shot at getting into popular schools like Dorothy Stringer and Varndean, rather than just BACA.

The council is looking to tackle a projected surplus of over 400 secondary school students by 2031 with these changes. They also hope to close the achievement gap for disadvantaged students.

Equity in Education is all for open admissions and is teaming up with another local group, Class Divide, to push for better options for all kids in Brighton and Hove. They’ve pointed out that better public transport to schools is a must, and the council’s deputy leader has promised to look into it.

In their feedback on the consultation, Equity in Education expressed that the proposals missed the mark. They noted that many in the BACA area didn’t even know about the council’s outreach efforts, which is a real concern.

One parent, Nicola Clewer, is trying to raise awareness about the consultation and the issues surrounding school choices. She’s frustrated that some kids can’t attend their nearest school due to the way catchment areas are set up.

Another mom, Georgina Baldwin, shared her son’s excitement about exploring secondary schools. But she had to temper his hopes because he likely wouldn’t get a spot at his preferred school. She feels like the current system gives the illusion of choice, but it’s not really there.

The full response from the group can be found online. Meanwhile, some governors at Dorothy Stringer are against the open admission idea and want to prioritize kids who receive free school meals starting in 2025.

Parents in the Varndean area have formed a campaign group, worried that if the proposals go through, many kids won’t be able to attend their local schools in 2026. The consultation also includes plans to reduce the number of new students at three schools.

As of now, over 2,100 people have weighed in on the consultation, and the deadline to respond is coming up soon.