Please find below information about a consultation that is being undertaken by Brantridge School on a proposal to amend the funding agreement with the Department for Education (DfE). The proposal would enable up to 96 primary places for boys only to be delivered, subject to the reconfiguration and refurbishment of an existing building on the site.
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Brantridge School is a special school that currently meets the needs of 80 boys aged 5 to 11 (Year 1 to Year 6) with social, emotional and mental health difficulties, including autistic spectrum disorder. The school is part of Orchard Hill College Academy Trust (the Trust), a specialist multi academy trust.
In recent years, the Trust has worked closely with West Sussex County Council (WSCC) and the Department for Education to consider how provision at Brantridge School could best respond to changing patterns of local need. This work previously included consideration of developing a co-educational secondary provision on the school site, and consultation was undertaken at that time. However, as has been previously communicated, WSCC confirmed that it would not be progressing the development of secondary provision at Brantridge School.
Current discussions with the local authority are now focused solely on addressing demand within the primary phase. WSCC has identified a continued and increasing need for specialist primary SEMH provision. In response, the Trust is proposing to expand primary capacity at Brantridge School.
The proposal would enable up to 96 primary places for boys to be delivered, subject to the reconfiguration and refurbishment of an existing building on the site.
As Brantridge School is an academy, the proposed changes would require approval from the Department for Education (DfE). A Significant Change Business Case will therefore be submitted to seek approval on the proposal to amend the School’s Funding Agreement to 96 primary planned places for boys.
A consultation will be undertaken to gather the views of families, staff and other interested parties, in order to inform the DfE’s decision making. The consultation period on this proposal will run from Tuesday 24th February to Wednesday 18th March 2026. During this time, we invite you to share your views in the following ways:
Comments on the proposal to be submitted in one of the following ways:
Our families and wider school community are at the heart of what we do and we want to be sure that this proposal is right, not only for Brantridge School but for the local community.
If you have any questions please contact the school, Brantridge School, Staplefield, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH17 6EQ or email schooloffice@brantridge-school.co.uk or call 01444 400 228.
No. Class sizes will remain at a maximum of eight pupils. The proposal is designed to create additional provision rather than increase the number of pupils in existing classes. Although no organisation can commit to long‑term changes far into the future, there are no current plans or intentions to alter the school’s established class size model.
Individualised support will remain central to the school’s SEMH offer. Growth in pupil numbers will be matched with appropriate staffing to maintain safe and effective pupil‑to‑staff ratios. The school will continue to provide personalised support in line with the approaches already in place.
Most pupils’ needs are met through the school’s strong universal SEMH offer, which is embedded across the curriculum. Where a pupil requires more specialised therapeutic input, these resources will be increased proportionately. The school is confident it will continue to deliver all requirements set out in pupils’ EHCPs as part of any expansion.
Staffing will grow in line with pupil numbers to ensure the school remains safely and appropriately staffed. This includes recruiting additional teachers, support staff and an additional therapy assistant.
Yes. The school and Trust are confident that the current leadership structures have the capacity to oversee and support planned growth. Leadership capacity will continue to be monitored and strengthened if needed. Relevant consultation has taken place with the wider staff team, and wellbeing and workload considerations will remain central to planning.
There is a recognised need for additional specialist primary SEMH places in the local area. The proposal aims to help meet that need while supporting the school’s long-term development. Although West Sussex County Council has identified pressure on specialist places, the expansion is not solely driven by local authority demand; it reflects both system‑wide need and the school’s commitment to maintaining high‑quality specialist provision.
The school acknowledges the disruption caused by historic and current building issues. Work to address these matters is being managed, and the school is confident that they will be resolved appropriately. Any future works required as part of an expansion project will be planned carefully to minimise disruption and prioritise the wellbeing and learning of pupils.
Some respondents have raised valid points about the limited availability of specialist places for girls or suitable secondary pathways for pupils leaving Brantridge. These are important strategic issues, but they sit separately from the current consultation, which focuses specifically on addressing the shortage of specialist primary SEMH places for boys. While this expansion proposal is not intended to address secondary or girls’ provision, the feedback is recognised and may help inform wider discussions at Trust and local authority level in the future.
A carefully planned increase in pupil numbers would create a number of educational, social and operational benefits for pupils and the school community. A slightly larger cohort could allow the school to offer a broader and more varied curriculum, including activities that become more viable when delivered at a larger scale. It would also create wider peer group opportunities, ensuring that pupils have access to more children with similar interests, needs or strengths. While being part of a very small community can be positive, it can also limit social experiences and the range of friendships available; a modest expansion helps to balance this by providing greater social diversity and opportunities for positive peer relationships.
An increase in numbers also strengthens the resilience of the school’s provision. A slightly larger staff team means a wider range of expertise, greater capacity to share best practice and enhanced opportunities for joint planning and specialist interventions. This supports high‑quality SEMH practice and helps the school sustain a rich therapeutic environment. Overall, the expansion could provide the benefits of enhancing the curriculum, increasing social and developmental opportunities for pupils and strengthening the long‑term sustainability of specialist SEMH provision, while maintaining the school’s personalised approach.
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