Two Brighton schools are set to merge in order to combat rising costs and shrinking numbers. Stanford Infant and Junior Schools are currently independently operated, with a separate staff, headteacher and site. Councillor Jacob Taylor, deputy leader of Brighton and Hove City Council and cabinet member for finance, said: “We’re encouraging parents and carers, pupils, school staff and governors and the wider community to have their say on the proposal to merge Stanford Infant and Junior Schools. In common with schools across the city, both schools have struggled with their budgets as numbers fall, because funding is based on pupil numbers. The need to apply to join the junior school also leads to one in ten children deciding to go to a different school when transitioning from infants..