Attractive schools in Brighton/Hove/anywhere!

[theodorgeisel]

Hello. I'm looking for advice on moving to Brighton. I am having to do everything from overseas - find schools, potential rentals etc. I have friends there but no one is in my position - single mum with two young children, who are leaving a tropical island paradise and their dad to move to the UK. This single mum doesn't have much cash so private schools are not an option.

I guess some people will read this and think my concern is frivolous. Indeed I know there are many many huge hurdles to overcome. I am going to get my son tested for ADHD and if he has it, I guess he would be considered SEN and get priority for any school?

I think physical environment is important for a child. I don't care about fancy, I just hate the thought of a big 60s style building as a primary school. Are there any state primary schools in Brighton or the surrounding areas that are beautiful, bright modern buildings, or even old, worn but still beautiful buildings?

Having looked at the websites, I just can't get over how the primary schools seem to be ugly, modern, dark, almost intimidating structures. Granted, most of the photos seem to have been taken on rainy dark days.

Apart from any readers who may think this is a silly thing to worry about, can anyone tell me if I am living in cloud cuckoo land? Do such places exist in B&H?

I think a little village school would fit the bill. Smaller/cosier (you'd hope). Can anyone suggest a pretty village with good primary schools nearby that also has some sort of life - a couple of pubs, restaurant, supermarket?

Thanks in advance. I'm bracing myself for a reality check...

In fact - any schools fit this description the South anywhere?

Don't know the region but your son, even if diagnosed with ADHD, wouldn't get any priority. This only applied to children with an Educational Health Care plan-which requires rather more than a diagnosis of ADHD.

You can only apply for a school once you have an address to apply from. so you might need to find a school you like, check it has vacancies and then find somewhere close by to live. Even then, you run the risk of someone else moving ahead of you on the waiting list. Finding a school is a tough job!

Having said that, I think what happens inside a school is more important than what it looks like from the outside!

You're prioritising how the school LOOKS over quality of teaching??? WTAF.

Your poor child.

Looks like Brighton bilingual primary is anew build
bilingualprimaryschool.org.uk/brighton-hove/primary/bilingualprimaryschool.
The Primary in Henfield isn’t 1960’s
This is an old building www.ashurstcofe-pri.w-sussex.sch.uk/website
Brighton schools have been oversubscribed so you may not have lots of choice. It may depend where has space.

Another different building www.seafordprimary.e-sussex.sch.uk/website/photos_of_the_school_environment/33342

ADHD doesn't get prioritised for any school. It doesn't automatically added to SEN register either. Depends on how severe it is OR if he has any other co morbidities. In which case, attractiveness of the school will be the very least of your worries in choosing a school for him.

spanieleyes and TRALALALAAetc. - very helpful indeed I spoke to B&H council who didn't make that clear to me. So you've probably saved me a ton of ballache down the road.

cheapochips - there's always one innit! I didn't say I was prioritising it. An attractive environment is important to me for various reasons, so I was just putting it out there so people with local knowledge could give me their opinion. :)

Mary21 - also really helpful - thank you!

Since I wrote this I think I may have found a solution of sorts! I guess I wasn't particularly articulate in my gibbering post. It's not just the architecture. I want the children to experience the natural beauty of the UK which they never have. I just think it's so important. So, praps a village school close to a forest school for extra curricular stuff.

Small schools
www.bury.w-sussex.sch.uk/website/school_organisation_and_vision/6543
www.amberley.w-sussex.sch.uk/Ourschool/OfstedReport/

I would prioritize practical things, like support for your child's particular needs. And pick housing that is near to some nice natural greenery or pretty parks.

Stay far, far away from schools that are brandishing their swanky new ultramodern designs. These architectural vanity pieces tend to be nightmares to teach or learn in, and are often particularly overwhelming for children who are easily distracted or have sensory issues (I am thinking, for example, of those stupid wanky open-plan schools that come into fashion every few years--they are noisy, distracting and stressful even for NT children).

Brighton is a city so if you are looking for a village like feel, try Lewes, rottingdean, Seaford.

When my DDs were little we lived in Lavant in West Sussex (about 3 miles north of Chichester) and they went to Lavant Primary. It was a lovely school. Architecturally speaking I think it was built in the late 80s and it still felt quite new when they were there - it's very light and bright. It was a very happy, friendly place at the time (early 2000s). No idea what it's like now but I don't imagine the buildings will be different!

The village is on a main road into Chichester and most of it's recently built and not beautiful, but there's a lovely cycle path/footpath on the old railway tracks, and footpaths into the south downs direct from the 'old' village of East Lavant on the other side of the main road. I loved living there - close proximity to both countryside and the small, beautiful city of Chichester, with larger cities not far away, and of course close to the sea. It's about 40 mins from Brighton on the train. Chichester is absolutely brimming with beautiful buildings if that's on your wish list, and East Lavant is very picturesque with a quintessentially English village green and river running through it. Oh, and a lovely old church.

Hello

I grew up in Brighton. Stanford Junior School is an attractive, red bricked Victorian building. I heard that it had had quite a lot of work done to it (because it had become structurally unsound).

Stanford Infants was a more modern building. I don’t really remember what it looked like exactly, I was only just seven when I left.

It’s worth bearing in mind that schools often feel small and poky to adults - but don’t to children.

If you want a good school with a nice old building beside a park then St Luke's Primary in Brighton is very nice and right beside Queens Park. But that is well in the city so not countryside.

If your child may have ADHD (my son is awaiting assessment) then I would emphasise a calm and decluttered environment. We looked at several schools and two, including the one he is at, were calm and visually uncluttered, which we felt would help him be less distracted.

One was very very noisy in the Reception classroom (two very small rooms joined together - he is now at one which had two rooms together but much larger and more outdoor space) and one had a single older (Victorian, like you seem to prefer) classroom but it was very crowded (the room was too small for all the chairs/tables AND a carpet space yet they did not seem to put the tables/chairs away like in many classrooms), for Reception.

We also chose a school that had a more Reception-like setup in Y1 which we felt would be helpful to him.

My child was at The Bilingual School. It is near Hove Park and has begun to attract more affluent parents the types that choose who comes to their kids birthday party because the parents are of the same social status.

The school is fine education-wise, though but like any school can be noisy - not that much space in playtime, too.

There is a lovely primary school in Plumpton. Less kids in classes and views of the downs. It all felt very peaceful there and Plumpton is in a nice area.

Good luck with your search!

Wondering where you ended up and how it all went. I’m in a similar position, moving from California, doing it all/applying from here. I’d love to know what you think now you’re there and I’d you have any advice! Thanks 😊