Brighton & Hove City Council’s Secondary School Admissions Consultation – PaCC’s Report
During Brighton & Hove City Council’s (BHCC) recent consultation on proposed changes to secondary school admissions, PaCC has worked to ensure the voices of parent carers are heard. During the consultation period, we facilitated two listening events alongside BHCC officers, receiving valuable feedback from families across the city.
Parent carers shared mixed views on the proposals. While some welcomed the increased flexibility in school choice, particularly for children with SEND living in single school catchment areas, others raised concerns about how the changes might impact their children’s stability, friendships, and ability to access suitable education.
One of the most pressing issues raised was transport. Many parents highlighted that children with SEND already travel long distances on public transport to attend a school that meets their needs. While some families report this works well, others say long commutes create undue stress and impact mental health. PaCC is calling on BHCC to ensure that whatever decisions are made, school placements must not place additional burdens on children with SEND and their families.
Another key theme was the complexity of the proposals. Parents found the changes difficult to interpret, particularly regarding the 20% allocation for out-of-catchment placements. Many also expressed concerns about Priority 2 admissions, fearing that children without an EHCP could be disadvantaged, while families with financial resources may have an unfair advantage in securing specialist assessments.
PaCC is committed to making sure decision-makers take SEND needs into account. We thank BHCC officers for engaging with our listening events and urge councillors to consider parent carers’ feedback before finalising any decisions.
For full details, please read our updated report.