60 likes | 152 Views
INTRODUCTION. Parents are unaware of admissions process difficulties. 914 Herts children did not get choice. 1028 out-of-county children got places. 400 of 914 = in Watford and 3 Rivers (2 of Herts’ 10 districts!). Only 4 of 11 accepted by St. Clement Danes and
E N D
INTRODUCTION • Parents are unaware of admissions process difficulties. • 914 Herts children did not get choice. • 1028 out-of-county children got places. • 400 of 914 = in Watford and 3 Rivers (2 of Herts’ 10 districts!). • Only 4 of 11 accepted by St. Clement Danes and Rickmansworth were non-siblings • Herts CC discrimination against Herts children: • Less options than surrounding counties. • Rules favour surrounding counties. • Only realistic Herts CC school choices for parents are Westfield, Bushey Hall and Francis Coombe. • Herts CC relies on this annual cycle being spotted too late by parents.
INTRODUCTION • Local discrimination against Maple Cross/Mill End: • Local schools set own admissions criteria. • Criteria favour surrounding ‘better’ students. • Rickmansworth and Herts CC recently jointly stated • no immediate intent to expand Rickmansworth. • Herts CC planning is unrealistic: • New homes to be built (2001-21: 4000 in 3 Rivers; EERA target is 9000 per year by 2011). • Do not account for changes in community (e.g. population growth, infrastructure changes, etc.).
NEXT STEPS • Herts CC admissions application process: • Understand 2009/10 process. • Understand Herts, Bucks and Hillingdon local • school admission criteria. • Seek same process as surrounding counties. • Seek priority to Herts students over surrounding • county students. • Raise Herts CC awareness that it is unacceptable • that only community school choice are Herts’ 3 • worst-performing schools. • Engage Office of the Schools Adjudicator to see what • pressure can be put onto local non-community schools • re admissions criteria.
NEXT STEPS • Engage Herts CC support to: • Recognise South West Herts’ unique situation. • Pressure non-community schools re intake size, • admissions criteria, etc. • More realistically forward plan school place • volumes. • Join South West Herts action group to assist its • activity (Croxley Green will have different priorities). • Engage Mill End/Maple Cross local primary schools so • they know true problem: • Other St. Peters parents. • Other Mill End/Maple Cross parents (add pressure). • Set up website (our pull).
NEXT STEPS • Identify other players and engage with them (our push): • St. Peters’ governors. • Other Mill End/Maple Cross primary and secondary • school governors. • 3 Rivers (sitting and opposition party councillors). • Hillingdon and Bucks councils (for comparison • data). • Herts CC: • Sitting and opposition party councillors. • Education committee. • Relevant council officers. • Relevant national politicians. • Media. • Other ‘been through it befores’ for their knowledge. • Ofsted &/or Audit Commission (Herts CC auditors).
FURTHER STEPS • Keep eye on Herts CC, Hillingdon and Bucks admission • processes to ensure Herts students’ equality. • Look at other options: • Public funding to expand existing school capacity. • Build new school: • Community school. • Grant-maintained school. • Voluntary-aided school.