Arden admissions change will favour staff children

CHILDREN of Arden school staff will get priority over catchment area children under new plans.

Click the headline or link below to read the rest of this story.

The school wants to give morepriority to “children of staff who are permanently employed at Arden academy at the time of admission” from September 2014.

As with current arrangements, the highest priority would be looked after children and then those with “exceptional circumstances” that could only be met by the school.

The next group would be children of staff then catchment area children followed by those with siblings and then those living closest measured by a straight line.

The school can make the change as it is an academy, meaning it is now independent of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council.

This has also led to a controversial move by Tudor Grange Academy to give priority to children in two primary schools over catchment area children.

The Arden changes would kick in when the school is oversubscribed. It will have 240 places in September 2014 and demand is expected to outstrip places.

Changes to take affect this September will give more priority to children who attend primary schools in Knowle and Dorridge.

This followed concern from headteacher Martin Murphy that some people in the villages could not get their children into Arden.

Views are sought on the latest changes by February 26 by writing to Janet McCrone, Admissions Officer, Arden, Station Road, Knowle, Solihull, B93 0PT.

What do you think? Leave your comments below. No registration required. Posts must abide by the terms and conditions. Report comments at news@thesilhillian.co.uk.

Click here to get stories by email.