I am writing as a parent who is heartbroken and deeply concerned about the planned closure of this much-loved school. Although the closure is scheduled for the end of the school year, the harm is already being felt. The uncertainty has created instability and anxiety across the school community, with many families of younger children leaving in large numbers. This has been upsetting and confusing for the children who remain.

For my own child, now in her final year of primary school, this should be a time of reassurance, celebration, and confidence, rather than fear and uncertainty.

Middle Street is not simply a school. It has been a safe haven for many.

Many children there have struggled with anxiety and emotionally based school refusal. Without the patience, understanding, and flexibility of this school, I genuinely do not know where some parents would be today. As a small, single-class-entry school, the kids have never felt lost in a crowd. Staff have taken the time to truly know them as individuals, gently helping them overcome fears, offering quiet spaces when needed, responding with compassion when anxiety took over, and providing encouragement rather than pressure.

This level of care cannot be measured on a spreadsheet, yet it has been life-changing.

Middle Street Primary is also one of Brighton’s oldest schools, with education on this site dating back to the early nineteenth century. Generations of children have been supported here, creating a rare sense of continuity, heritage, and belonging. The loss of such a historically significant school would be deeply felt across the city.

As an inner-city school, Middle Street reflects the true diversity of Brighton. It supports families from all walks of life, including those experiencing poverty and instability. The school’s onsite food cupboard, stocked through the kindness of parents and staff, provides discreet and dignified support to families in need. For many children, the school represents stability, safety, and consistency.

Its closure risks removing a vital source of support for vulnerable families.

Middle Street is a genuinely inclusive school with strong support for children with special educational needs. It offers a calm, accepting environment where children are allowed to be themselves. Its relaxed atmosphere, creative approach, and emphasis on emotional wellbeing help pupils build confidence and resilience, particularly those who struggle in more rigid settings.

A defining feature of Middle Street is its bohemian, creative spirit. The absence of a strict uniform and the use of first names between staff and pupils foster mutual respect, trust, and individuality. Children are encouraged to express who they are and to feel comfortable and accepted. This ethos has been essential to my child’s wellbeing and ability to engage with education.

I am also a trustee of the school’s Parent Teacher Association charity. Through this role, I witness daily the extraordinary dedication of parents and staff who volunteer their time, energy, and resources to enrich children’s experiences and provide practical support. The proposed closure disregards not only this immense unpaid effort but also the deep emotional investment families have made in the school.

Most importantly, Middle Street Primary is a true community school.

Children are known, understood, and supported. Families support one another. Ofsted has recognised the school’s strong sense of belonging; as parents, we experience and value this reality every day.