Sorry for lengthy message, I don't want to drip feed.
Our local secondary catchment area has shrunk this year by over 40% from over 800m to just over 500m. This has left a huge amount of families without any of their choices, and they have instead been allocated either a single sex school or a faith school which is an hour's walk away.
There are a number of reasons behind this - this is the last high birth year and there were a huge number of sibling places allocated this year, meaning very few places left based on catchment. In addition, the school sold off land and two huge housing developments have been built adjacent to the school meaning lots of families have moved in to the area, squeezing others out.
This has left a number of families who have missed out completely devastated not to be getting their local school, which is a real 'community' school. Congestion in our town is already horrific so kids travelling to the faith school will only exacerbate this (there are no public transport options that work).
Apart from the general disappointment, families are angry because for the last 2 years the school added a 'bulge' class to go up from 7 form entry to 8 form entry. The expectation was they would do the same again this year, given the high birth rate and the effect of the new housing developments, but it has become clear only on allocation day that this did not happen. The school have issued a statement saying they wanted to add an 8th form again and for this to become permanent, and they even offered to contribute to the cost but the Council turned them down. This seems to be on the basis that there are places available elsewhere in the town (the faith school and the single sex school), and maybe this is a cheaper option for the Council than adding the bulge class, though I don't pretend to know much about the funding.
Parents are trying urgently to challenge the Council on this, and given the wealth of experience on here I was hoping someone may have some insight.
eg, are there any possible grounds for challenging the decision - should the council have consulted parents about not having a bulge class, or at least made this clear at the application stage so parents could plan accordingly? I'm not hopeful but we need to send something as soon as possible and I'm not sure we'll have time to research the legal detail for the initial complaint.
Thank you if you are able to assist at all.
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Secondary education
URGENT HELP PLEASE: Challenging council re removal of 'bulge' class
RestingFebruaryFace · 03/03/2024 13:25
reallyworriedjobhunter · 03/03/2024 13:30
It's usually very clear how many places are available during the application process. Did they give the numbers for 8 form entry or 7 form entry at that point?
I don't think they have to consult with parents - just inform them. The number of places is the number of places and that's that.
ilovebreadsauce · 03/03/2024 14:11
It isn't really a bulge is t, as much as a sustained increase.
arttown · 03/03/2024 15:21
I'm pretty sure you are taking about Beaumont in St Albans. I completely understand it's a blow for the families concerned but whilst there are empty seats at schools within the city it doesn't make sense for the council to keep adding places at the most fought after schools.
Beaumont's increase in PAN to 240 was always flagged as a 2 year temporary measure in 2022 - it says so on the school's admission page.
I wish parents would pour their energies into lobbying for and improving the funding and facilities to make every school desirable. This issue will never resolve otherwise.
DragonFly98 · 03/03/2024 15:56
An hours walk is 4 miles a completely normal and actually quite a short commute to high school. I don't see the issue at all.
arttown · 03/03/2024 15:21
I'm pretty sure you are taking about Beaumont in St Albans. I completely understand it's a blow for the families concerned but whilst there are empty seats at schools within the city it doesn't make sense for the council to keep adding places at the most fought after schools.
Beaumont's increase in PAN to 240 was always flagged as a 2 year temporary measure in 2022 - it says so on the school's admission page.
I wish parents would pour their energies into lobbying for and improving the funding and facilities to make every school desirable. This issue will never resolve otherwise.
Soreteatowel · 03/03/2024 15:37
The bulge year is for when there won't be enough places, if places have been found for all the students, it's not needed. I doubt you'll get anywhere TBH.
I'm also not convinced about the school saying they'd fund it. School funding is per pupil, if the school has the pupils they'll get the funding. We're they going to send it back and if so, they're going to spend money that was designated for other children on this bulge class?
menopausalmare · 03/03/2024 16:04
There are issues of accomodation, congestion and travel. Two bulge years mean an extra 64 pupils in the building. If the school does not have spare classrooms, this is unsustainable. There are also issues of corridor crowding and canteen space. Extra pupils means extra traffic in the area. They've accommodated two bulge years and can't stretch to a third.
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DragonFly98 · 03/03/2024 15:56
An hours walk is 4 miles a completely normal and actually quite a short commute to high school. I don't see the issue at all.
Newgirls · 03/03/2024 16:22
I think the expansion has finished apart from the hall. Not aware of any other development plans now
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