Surplus Places in Hastings Schools
JOEL CHESHIRE
Forecasts within East Sussex County Council’s School Organisation Plan 2025-2029 indicate that several primary schools in Hastings are operating with significant surplus capacity. As many of these schools are academies, decisions about reducing or adjusting capacity sit with individual academy trusts rather than the county council itself.
The School Organisation Plan is the council’s statutory four-year strategic framework for ensuring there are enough school places to meet the needs of children across East Sussex. The plan covers the full spectrum of education provision, including early years, primary and secondary schools, special schools and specialist facilities, alternative provision, and post-16 education for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The latest version of the plan highlights a county-wide decline in pupil numbers, most noticeably at primary level, driven largely by falling birth rates. A parent in Rother district sums up the current problem: “As a parent of two children in primary school, I’ve seen first-hand the impact of falling pupil numbers. Schools simply can’t afford to run with large numbers of empty places, so in our case, classes have been merged and teaching staff reduced to try to future-proof against declining birth rates. Schools are now forced to compete for a shrinking number of children just to remain financially viable.”
Maintaining financial viability has not only led to larger classes, but also to a reduction of teaching assistants; TAs are particularly important in dealing with the rising demand for SEND provision and with the associated increase in children provided with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). So the focus on SEND provision in the plan is a positive step.
The council aims to expand local specialist provision, develop facilities within mainstream schools, and reduce reliance on independent or out-of-county placements. For the first time, the plan also includes a dedicated section on Alternative Provision, alongside a detailed review of post-16 SEND pathways.
The decline in student numbers is expected to move into secondary schools during the plan period. Increasing levels of surplus school places are anticipated in some areas, including Hastings, while other localities may continue to face pressure due to housing growth.
In Hastings specifically, the local planning area comprises 18 primary schools and three secondary schools. The plan confirms that the town currently has more school places than are needed, particularly in the primary phase. This surplus is largely attributed to a sustained fall in birth rates locally, which has been ongoing since the 2010/11 academic year.
At secondary level, pupil numbers are also below overall capacity. One secondary school is currently experiencing surplus capacity above 25 per cent, although this is expected to reduce later as numbers rise slightly. Overall, the council concludes that Hastings has adequate school provision across both primary and secondary phases, with only modest changes in demand anticipated in the coming years. While the plan does not propose specific school closures, it sets out a framework for how decisions could be approached if surplus capacity becomes unsustainable.
Despite falling pupil numbers overall, the plan recognises that new housing developments can still generate demand for school places in particular locations. The council says it will continue to work with district and borough councils to align school planning with local development plans and seek developer contributions where appropriate.
Overall, the School Organisation Plan provides an evidence-based approach to managing school places during a period of demographic change, balancing declining mainstream demand with growing pressure on specialist education services.
Further details are available in the council’s comprehensive published plan available at democracy.eastsussex.gov.uk/documents/s72061/Appendix%201.html?CT=2
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