Deaf school to stay open but questions remain

A deaf school in Brighton which was set to close after 80 years will now stay open, but some parents still have concerns.

In September, Hamilton Lodge School and College in Brighton said it planned to close due to a decline in the number of pupils.

But on Thursday, the school said the board of trustees decided it would not be closing, but it would need to make changes to ensure it was financially sustainable going forwards.

Helen Husbands, whose daughter goes to the school, said: "Whilst we are breathing an enormous sigh of relief that the trust has committed to keeping the school open, this experience has been traumatic."

Ms Husbands, from Hove, has concerns about some staff potentially losing their jobs.

She said parents at the school would continue to campaign to protect the education of deaf students and the wider disabled community.

Neha Mehta, whose 12-year-old daughter Udi is at the school, said the months between the announcement and the recent update have been "nightmarish".

She said there had been an "erosion of trust" with the trustees.

Paul Jackson, whose 16-year-old daughter Niamh goes to the school, said: "It was a relief more than joy [to hear the news].

"A weight had been lifted off the shoulders rather than being ecstatic about it."

He said he thought the situation had been "handled appallingly".

"There's still a lot of uncertainty about how it will be sustainable going forwards," Mr Jackson added.

The school's board of trustees said it was undergoing restructuring to ensure a sustainable future.

"Despite the challenges faced during this transition, we are committed to continuing as a specialist centre for deaf students, providing both residential and day education, with a focus on British Sign Language," they added.

In a statement online, the school said further information about its rationale and proposed strategy would be provided at designated meetings with parents and staff.

The British Deaf Association said the news of the school staying open sent a message to the rest of the education system that the availability of British Sign Language education was "critically important to many families".

"Deaf children benefit strongly from the ability to study and learn via direct teaching in an environment richly rooted in their own language," they added.

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