Dear Horsley parents and residents
The Keep Horsley in the Howard (“KHitH”) Action
Group has been successful in challenging
The Schools Adjudicator has told SCC that they must revise the criteria
for 2008 admissions because they are not equitable for Horsley children. Rather than reject outright SCC’s six partner
school proposal, the Adjudicator has determined that, SCC must amend its
proposals. He has directed SCC to take
account of the distance to the next nearest school with places available. Use of a criterion of this type was proposed
by KHitH.
For 2008 (after taking account of those with particular needs and those
with siblings at the Howard), children at one of the partner schools (which
include the Raleigh and St Lawrence’s) will have priority over those who are
not at one of those partner schools. It
is expected that there will be more applicants from the partner schools than
places available and so places will be allocated to those for whom their next
nearest school with places available is furthest away.
We believe that for those children in Horsley, attending a
partner school, their chances of gaining admission to the Howard are
significantly improved from their chances under the previously published
criteria and SCC’s proposed variation, although we need to clarify with SCC how
they expect the revised criteria to work in practice.
KHitH are disappointed that Horsley children not attending a partner
school will be disadvantaged. The
Adjudicator has said that whilst the revised 2008 arrangements are an
improvement, they are capable of further refinement and he has therefore put
the revised arrangements in place for one year only to enable SCC to work
further on them for 2009 and beyond.
KHitH will therefore continue to
work with SCC in looking at refinements which put in place equitable
arrangements for all Horsley children and to ensure that the improvements made
for 2008 are not eroded for those children currently in year 5 and below. We will be looking for your continued
support!
We also aim to support those
parents of year 6 children not at a partner school who are adversely
affected. If you are affected in this
way or know of someone, please let us know.
We will hold a meeting for Year 6
parents at West Horsley Village Hall on Sunday 7th October, at 7pm,
so we can discuss the Adjudicator’s decision and how SCC are going to respond. We hope that this will assist those parents
in completing the 2008 admissions forms, ahead of the deadline on 19 October.
KHitH could not have made such progress for Horsley children without the
financial support of parents and residents, enabling us to have access to legal
advice, but we still need further funds.
Please consider making a donation of any size. Please contact me for a gift aid form or
access our website http://www.keephorsleyinthehowardschool.co.uk/.
Melanie McLaren
01483 283173 / hindsatwestwold@aol.com