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New School Plans Paused in West Sussex Amid Declining Demand
8 Aug
Summary
- Plans for new Bedelands Academy secondary school halted for 2 years
- Primary school development to continue in Brookleigh, Burgess Hill
- MP calls for more information on reasons behind the delay
As of August 8th, 2025, plans for a new secondary school in West Sussex, the Bedelands Academy, have been put on hold for the next 2 years. According to the West Sussex County Council (WSCC), the decision to pause the project was made due to lower-than-anticipated demand for school places in the area.
The Bedelands Academy was part of an "all-through" project that included a primary school as well. While the secondary school plans have been halted, the council spokesperson confirmed that the primary school development in the Brookleigh area of Burgess Hill will continue to be delivered by Homes England to serve the 3,500 new homes in the area.
Alison Bennett, the Member of Parliament for Mid Sussex, has expressed concerns about the pause, stating that it "raises as many questions as it answers." She has called for more information to be released on the reasons behind the delay in the secondary school plans.
The council's decision to reassess the Bedelands Academy project comes as a surprise, given the ongoing demand for school places in the region. However, the continued development of the primary school in Brookleigh suggests that the council is still committed to addressing the educational needs of the growing population in West Sussex.
