Deaf school in England closing; BDA objects

Transcript: A report from BBC said a Deaf school in England, the Hamilton Lodge School and College in Brighton, is to close due to a decline in the number of students. The school had been in operation for over 80 years and is slated to close in August 2025.

BBC said the British Deaf Association (BDA) said it strongly objects to the closure because every deaf child has a right to education in their natural language, British Sign Language.

The BDA posted a response to the school’s closure on its website. It said the closure is a “significant loss, particularly for Deaf children and their families who depend on such language-rich, inclusive environments.” The BDA called on the government to find ways on how the school can stay open. The BDA said the school’s closure is a “call to action for all stakeholders to come together and protect the future of Deaf children in the UK.”

For more information, links to the BBC article and the BDA’s response is in the description and transcript. It is always discouraging to see any Deaf-related school or institution be threatened with closure.

BBC: Link

BDA: Link