At-risk school has just 37 pupils, council says

Fewer than 40 children are currently attending a school that could be closed, council papers say.

Of the 37 children still at Middle Street Primary School in Brighton, 27 are in year six and about to move on to secondary school – with all other years having just one or two pupils each, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

A special meeting of Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC) has been called for Thursday to debate closing the school from the end of the 2025-2026 academic year in August.

Middle Street Primary School has been contacted for a comment.

BHCC said Middle Street Primary School appointed an interim executive board in June 2025 to address governance and financial challenges and concluded the school did not have a "viable future".

The council report said just three families were considering the school for their reception-age children for September 2026.

The school also built up a budget deficit, believed to be about £400,000, in the space of two years, the LDRS said.

Following the statutory notice to close the school, there were 10 responses from individuals and one communal comment.

One of the responders said: "This closure is not an unavoidable outcome - it is the result of failure.

"Middle Street was not historically an under-subscribed school. It had a waiting list and a strong, positive reputation."

They added that it was "a vital part of the community".

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