Stanford Merger Public Consultation
Views are currently being sought on proposed changes to merge Stanford Infant School and Stanford Junior School into a single all-through primary school, on two sites, from September 2026.
Governors of both the Infant and Junior Schools have been in regular contact with the Stanford community regarding future collaboration.
All details of the current consultation can be found on the council website here.
The public consultation started on Monday 29 September 2025 and runs until Sunday 16 November 2026. Views from pupils, parents and carers, school staff and governors and the communities in and around Brighton & Hove are being looked at. Feedback is vital in helping to understand the potential impacts of the proposal and informs the decision making process.
Why is this change being considered?
The governing boards of Stanford Infant and Stanford Junior schools, with the support of the council, are proposing to merge the two schools into a single all-through primary school operating across existing sites.
This would create a seamless educational journey from Reception to Year 6, with one headteacher, one senior leadership team and one governing body. The merger would provide curriculum continuity, guarantee Year 3 places for all infant pupils and offer greater flexibility in terms of staffing and resources.
Across Brighton & Hove, we are seeing falling school enrolment numbers. Central Government funding for schools is directly linked to pupil admission numbers. As a result, both Stanford Infant School and Stanford Junior School are not receiving the income they need to maintain two separate school sites, facing unsustainable budget deficits.
The current system of separate schools also creates uncertainty for families transitioning from Year 2 to Year 3, with only around 90% of infant school pupils currently progressing to Stanford Junior School.
Letters and Info
A note from the governing boards of Stanford Junior and Stanford Infant Schools = September 2025
Governors' letter to parents announcing the consultation - September 2025
Governors' letter on decision on future structure - September 2025
Update note on collaboration - June 2025
Collaboration survey results - May 2025
Letter to parents announcing the resignation of Mr Davis (Head teacher) - January 2025
Have your say
Please take the survey to share your views on the proposal to merge Stanford Infant School and Stanford Junior School. If you don't want to complete the survey, please email your thoughts to educationandlearning@brighton-hove.gov.uk.
You can also share your views at any of our public engagement events:
Timeline and next steps
The results of the consultation will be analysed and a decision will be made whether to proceed with the publication of a statutory notice proposing the merger. This would then be followed by a 4 week period which would run from 24 November to 21 December 2025 during which time further representations about the proposal could be made. Cabinet will meet on 12 February 2026 to consider the report and its recommendations and make the final decision.