Closing a city centre primary school would severely disrupt pupils' education and have a disastrous impact on their wellbeing, parents say.

Parents at St Bartholomew’s C of E Primary School in Brighton have access to the school’s food bank and a second-hand uniform rail, while staff at the school are specially trained to work with pupils with special educational needs.

There is a strong community between families and teachers at the school but if plans by Brighton and Hove City Council to shut it are given the green light, the community will be destroyed. Those are the words of fearful parents who spoke to The Argus about how their lives and those of their children will be affected by the closure.

READ MORE: Labour councillors defend Brighton school closures

Parent Reija Such said: “It is all good and well for the councillors to say ‘they will all be ok moving to another school’ but they don't know any of the individual children and the issues and struggles they already have.

“St Bartholomew's is a lifeline for many vulnerable families and children and to rob this away from them in just a few months’ notice would cause unnecessary stress and damage they do not need or deserve.

“Another worry for some year four and year five parents is that their children would have to move to a new school for a year or two and then again for secondary school.

“Their education has already been disrupted by the pandemic as they started their school life in lockdown.”

The Argus: Another parent, Charlotte Ralph, said her daughter receives specialist care at St Bartholomew’s and has built a strong trust with the teachers.

“My daughter is a Type-1 diabetic and having the school shut down will have a massive impact on her,” said Charlotte.

“She has severe anxiety as to who does her injections and manages her blood sugars. The staff at St Bartholomew’s are already trained and my daughter trusts them looking after her.

“She would miss education whilst I find a suitable school and train staff.”

Reija started a petition to save the school in Ann Street and it has already amassed 1,380 signatures. She said closing the school would also negatively impact the lives of parents.

She said: “Many parents also live and work in the local area, so moving school could mean they will have to reduce their working hours if they have to travel far to a new school.

“And should parents wish to have their children in a Church of England school, there won't be enough places in the local area.”

The school also provides support for families beyond education, offering a food bank and second-hand uniform to those who need it.

Another parent said: “They have a food bank for families who are struggling and they only have to come by and get some extra help.

“They also have uniform rails where families can help themselves to good condition preloved uniform, which is all checked and washed before being handed out.

“St Bartholomew’s doesn't offer big glamorous school trips but they do provide other trips and events which are either completely free or for a minimal cost.

“Their after-school clubs are amazing and also charged at a minimal cost, meaning more children can experience fun activities outside of school.”

Teachers at St Bartholomew’s are devastated at the potential closure but are said to be doing everything they can to keep spirits lifted.

The Labour council has been accused of making a U-turn on their manifesto pledge in which they said they would “use what money is available to keep schools open”.

Deputy Council Leader Jacob Taylor hit out at the criticism from the Green party and defended the “extremely tough” decision.

He said: “What we inherited in May was a budget built on sand and too many difficult decisions kicked down the road due to a total lack of leadership by a politically immature Green administration.

“The fact that there are falling pupil numbers in schools is not new. The Greens were aware of this but they were incapable of making decisions and are clearly much happier throwing stones from the sidelines than leading a complex unitary authority and did nothing. This is yet another example of appalling mis-management by the Greens.

“Rather than asking for more pauses and delays, what are the Green’s Party’s proposals for reducing the schools deficit? Do they have any?

“We must act now and take these extremely tough decisions. Doing nothing and hoping the situation improves or goes away, as the Greens did, is not an option.

“In our manifesto we said that we would use what money is available to keep schools open and that is exactly what we are doing.”