The school said fears over
its plan to give priority to children from two primary schools over catchment
area children are “groundless”.
It said of the 250 places
available in coming years, 50 are expected to come from the two primaries, St
James’ and St Alphege schools that do not live in the catchment.
A further 169 to 187 are
expected to come from the catchment area, meaning there will be enough room for
both groups, it said.
The plans have led to concerns – backed by a petition – that children will be denied places when
favour is given to the two faith primary schools.
In a statement, the principal
and governors said: “We are concerned that recent press articles have alarmed
parents who wish their children to enter the academy over the coming years.
“This alarm centres on an
incorrect impression that proposed admission changes would mean that children
who live in the catchment area could be denied a place as a result of the
changes.
“Data provided by SMBC [Solihull
Metropolitan Borough Council] make it clear that this fear is groundless.
“The present admission quota
is 250, this is not filled from the catchment area by a large margin, a margin
that is predicted to widen up to and including 2019, which is the last year for
which reliable demographic data exists.
“Within the time frame data,
again from SMBC, this indicates that the Academy can comfortably accommodate
every catchment area child plus the additional numbers who might choose to come
from St James and St Alphege Junior Schools.”
The children who get priority
under the new plans will be, in order: looked after children; children from the
two primaries; catchment area children; those with an older sibling at the
academy and then those living closest in a straight line.
The school will prioritise
catchment area children with older siblings and then those who live closest if
it is oversubscribed.
But it did not make clear how
the changes would affect these children.
Tudor Grange – which took
over St James’ in January - can make the changes as it is now free of council
control since becoming an academy.
It said it has been
approached by the council to increase its intake to 270 to “cope” with planned
new housing.
It pointed out it had taken
over St James’ with Church of England backing amidst “no adverse comments” from
parents.
The primary – which the
statement said was “threatened with closure” - is now named Tudor Grange
Primary Academy St James.
But it said: “There are no
plans to change the present designation of Tudor Grange Academy
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