Pupils of Burfield Academy have been temporarily relocated to Phoenix Academy while structural works are undertaken at the Oakland's Way school site. In January 2024 parents and carers of Burfield students were told of an on-going issue with Oakland's Way 'Kiss and Drop' (K&D), which had not been in use since 2020. STEP explained that an amendment was required to the planning permission for the site and that they had commissioned a Health and Safety review that deemed the K&D unsafe. STEP proposed removing the K&D and using the 'traditional' method of drop off and collection where parents/carers park in the streets around the school, which had been in use since 2020.

The application was made to East Sussex County Council (ESCC) and was rejected in March 2024. STEP reported back to parents that they had contacted ESCC Children's Services to request there input on the situation and they would share a further update once they had met with them.

The next communication from STEP was on 29th April 2024 proposing the amalgamation of Phoenix and Burfield's as the only alternative was to CLOSE Burfields Academy. The consultation period runs until 24th May 2024 and STEP want to submit there application to amalgamate the school to the Department for Education on the week beginning 3rd June 2024, with a view to join the schools for September 2024.

Parents of Burfield and Phoenix met with some of the Executive Team at STEP on 8th and 9th May where it was made abundantly clear that parents do not support this merge.

Marshfoot Lane site cannot cope with the number of students it currently has, over 300, and the move to Marshfoot Lane was only agreed to as a temporary measure. Many parents are forced to drive to Marshfoot Lane who were walking to school at Oakland's Way.  The congestion around Marshfoot Lane at collection and drop off is terrible and includes construction traffic for the new houses being built at the bottom of Marshfoot Lane. The parents feel STEP have not done enough to challenge ESCC on the parking issue at Oakland's Way and have not considered the impact on Hailsham if a primary school were to close. Burfields is not a failing school or under special measures it is a thriving and successful place of education. Parents fully support the staff and Headmistress of Burfields but have been let down by the STEP executive team. A school wide petition has been started for parents and carers to sign by a local Councillor but we feel that the local community need to be able to add there voices to support keep our local schools open.

The parents of Burfield and Phoenix and the community of Hailsham will not allow a school to be closed when every avenue to keep it open has not been exhausted.

It is vital that we can show the support of the local community before the consultation deadline STEP have imposed of 24th May 2024. We can then share this petition with the Regional Director of Schools in the South East, Dame Dethridge.

Credit Hailsham News for image