Basingstoke school is ‘fastest growing in Hampshire’

Brighton Hill School on Brighton Way had 496 applications for entry in September 2021, with just 255 spots available.

This is up from 440 in 2020 and 405 in 2019, and is the 12th highest number of applications of any school in the county.

Looking back a little further, the high numbers compare to just 197 applications received for September 2016 entry. Since then, the student population has more than doubled, from 502 students to a projected 1097 later this year.

Christopher Edwards, headteacher, said: “We are the fastest growing school in Hampshire by some distance. We are absolutely delighted that the local community are continuing to put their faith in us at Brighton Hill Community School. We’ve worked incredibly hard to turn our school around over the last few years and it’s fantastic to see that the hard work is paying off.

“Our students and families are extremely happy with what we are doing and where we are going. We hope this is just the beginning of our journey as a school. Come September, we will have doubled our numbers as a school in just four years, which is an extraordinary team effort.

“It’s great for Basingstoke as a town too, that so many families who historically would have chosen schools outside the area are now realising that they have even better options on their doorsteps, with a number of other schools in the town making great improvements too.”

It comes after the leader of Basingstoke council, Cllr Ken Rhatigan, voiced his concerns that the ‘best of our youth’ are attending school outside the town, at a meeting in December.

Cllr Rhatigan said: “We cannot continue to see the best of our youth leave our borough to get their education. Many go to Winchester. In my area, many go to West Berkshire for their education.

“If we do not keep in our eyeline the need for better education and better facilities in our schools, I think we're missing a trick.”