Falmer High School was a community mixed-sex non-denominational comprehensive school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Brighton, East Sussex, England. It closed on 31 August 2010 and was replaced by

Brighton Aldridge Community Academy Brighton Aldridge Community Academy (BACA) is a coeducational academy school in Brighton. It opened on 1 September 2010. The school replaced Falmer High School and is part of the Aldridge Education multi-academy trust. Dylan Davies became Bri ...

on the same site, sponsored by

Rod Aldridge Sir Rodney Malcolm Aldridge (born 7 November 1947) is the founder and former executive chairman of Capita, a British company specialising in business process outsourcing. He is a former Chair of Vinspired, a charity launched in May 2006 aiming ...

History

Grammar school

It was Westlain Grammar School and administered by the Brighton Education Committee. It opened as the Westlain Mixed Grammar School in 1957.

Comprehensive

It became a bi-lateral school in 1973 for ages 12–18 with 1,200 boys and girls, when it joined with Stanmer Secondary Modern School. It became administered by East Sussex Education Committee. By the late 1970s it was a comprehensive school. It became a school many parents from Brighton suburbs tried to avoid in the 1980s, as it served the council estates along ''Lewes Road'', with some parents even going to court to stop their children attending the school. Falmer School was awarded the Artsmark Silver in 2001 and Healthy School Status in March 2008.

Closure

Falmer High School was closed on 31 August 2010, replaced by the

on the same site, sponsored by

Academic performance

At the time some of Brighton and Hove's schools were below average at GCSE, and Falmer High School was joint bottom with results below the government minimum with Portslade Community College.

Alumni

Westlain Grammar School

Dave Hill David John Hill (born 4 April 1946) is an English rock musician. He is the lead guitarist, a backing vocalist and the sole continuous member in the English band Slade. Hill is known for his flamboyant stage clothes and hairstyle. Early life B ...

, professor and Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition PPC for Brighton KemptownProfessor Hill
/ref> * Jenny Jones, Green Party member of the

House of Lords The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Membership is by appointment, heredity or official function. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminste ...

and former Member of the London Assembly *

Gary Powell (actor) Gary Powell (born 10 September 1963) is a British actor. He is possibly best known for playing the character Laurie Bates in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders''. Career Laurie made his first screen appearance in September 1989 as a love interes ...

, played Laurie Bates in ''EastEnders'' in the late 1980s

Former teachers

* David Lepper, Labour MP from 1997 to 2010 for

Brighton Pavilion The Royal Pavilion, and surrounding gardens, also known as the Brighton Pavilion, is a Grade I listed former royal residence located in Brighton, England. Beginning in 1787, it was built in three stages as a seaside retreat for George, Prin ...

(taught from 1968–96) * Prof

Ian Spink Ian Spink (born 8 October 1947) is an Australian-British choreographer. Born in Melbourne, he trained at the Australian Ballet School. After graduating in 1968, he danced and choreographed for The Australian Ballet, Australian Dance Theatre and ...

, Director of Music from 1960–62

References

External links

Former grammar schoolEduBase

News items

Rod Aldridge in May 2008

Private schools in October 2002

Head wants private schools to lose their charitable status in October 2002
{{Schools in East Sussex Defunct schools in Brighton and Hove Educational institutions established in 1957 Educational institutions disestablished in 2010 1957 establishments in England 2010 disestablishments in England