East Sussex County Council Approves Merger of Two Eastbourne Schools

East Sussex County Council has approved proposals for the merger of two schools in Eastbourne. Bob Standley, who serves as the council’s lead member for education, formally consented on Monday to the plans to unite West Rise Community Infant School and West Rise Junior School. The proposals also include a change to the age range of the combined educational institution, extending it to two-11 years. This adjustment will permit the school to assume responsibility for the management of West Rise Nursery. The two schools initiated a shared head teacher arrangement in January, following West Rise Junior School’s receipt of a “‘requires improvement'” rating from Ofsted in 2023. Council documents state that the merger will not lead to any alterations in employment for current staff members. Furthermore, the report highlights that this change will eliminate the need for families of children in Year 2 to apply for a place in the junior school for Year 3. Consequently, West Rise Junior School is scheduled to undergo a formal closure, characterized by the council as a “technical closure,” on 30 April. On the subsequent day, West Rise Community Infant School will expand its existing age range from four-seven years to two-11 years. The Local Democracy Reporting Service reports that the school is expected to adopt the name West Rise Primary School, signifying its amalgamation.