School is to move

Members of the West Sussex school organisation committee, an independent body, took two and a half hours on Tuesday to reach the decision.

The committee, which includes some county councillors, wanted to be sure everything was in place for these vulnerable pupils and that the move would be in their best interests.

Tuesday's decision followed a year of campaigning by parents to keep Highdown School in Durrington Lane.

But their efforts were in vain and the school will operate from its new site from September 1, 2005.

It is part of a reorganisation of special schools to meet local and national best practice expectations and priorities for the next 20-plus years.

The plan also means Palatine School in Worthing will be refurbished to reopen on September 1, 2005, as a special school for children aged three to 11.

At present, Palatine School has 163 pupils with moderate learning difficulties and Highdown School caters for 122 pupils aged three to 19 with severe learning difficulties.

The new Highdown site will cater for children aged 11 to 19.

Also under the plan, Herons Dale special school at Shoreham will close and the buildings will be adapted as a special school for pupils aged four to 11.