Two Eastbourne schools plan to merge

St Thomas a Becket Catholic Junior School in Tutts Barn Lane would close, while the upper age limit for St Thomas a Becket Catholic Infant School would be altered from the current four-seven to four-11.

This would create an all-through primary school from September 2017 in line with East Sussex County Council’s school organisation policy.

The school’s governing body consulted interested parties in November and December with 87 per cent of respondents in favour of the changes.

The county council’s lead member for education and inclusion, special educational needs and disability is due to formally approve the changes on Tuesday (March 21).

According to an officers’ report: “The governing body believes that the longer-term future for Catholic education in the area can best be achieved through amalgamating the two schools into one all-through primary school, operating on the same site.

“All the children from ages four-11 in the two existing schools would be part of one school.”