Council help after school closure

Former pupils were left with no school place after the Easter break

Children and young people affected by the closure of an independent school in East Sussex are being offered places in the state education system.

The county council said it would accept applications from former pupils of Newlands School in Seaford, which announced it was shutting on Monday.

Parents or carers have been told they can apply for up to three preferred state schools in East Sussex.

Brighton and Eastbourne colleges and St Bede's School have also offered help.

The closure of Newlands left about 450 pupils without a school place and 200 staff facing redundancy.

New term

East Sussex County Council said it would try to meet any applicants' first chosen state school, but if none of their three preferences could be met then "a place will be made available at the nearest school with vacancies".

A statement said: "As schools are closed for the Easter break it may be difficult to tell parents and students which school has a place for them until the new term has started.

"However, every effort will be made to tell parents as soon as possible."

Brighton and Eastbourne colleges have offered "extraordinary" places to students due to sit GCSE and A-level exams this summer.

The county council said it was also working to find alternative accommodation for a private nursery which was run on the Newlands site.