This in from the council, in their own words. Ed
Isle of Wight Council has launched a consultation on proposals for a new way school admissions are arranged.
The proposals would also mean children with an elder sibling at a school will be given priority for places at the time of an application. This will mean young family members can learn at the same school.
Currently, parents who live in a catchment area are given priority for the school that serves that particular area, even though this may not be the nearest school to a parent’s home address.
Catchment areas removed
Under the new admissions proposals, catchment areas will effectively be removed and parents will now be given priority for their closest school. However, parents will still have the opportunity to express a preference for their choice of school.
As with the current admissions policy, parents will still be required to submit their first, second and third choice schools. These do not have to be the closest school to their home address and places at these schools will only be allocated once priority admissions from parents living closer to the school have been awarded.
“Will make it a lot easier for parents”
Dawn Cousins, Isle of Wight Council cabinet member responsible for children’s services said “The proposed new admissions policy will make it a lot easier for parents when choosing schools for their children.
“Giving priority to parents who want to send their child to the school where their sibling is already based is also an important step forward. It will remove a lot of worry and upset and will be a big help when it comes to organising the school run.”
You can view the consultation documents by going to www.iow.gov.uk/council/consultation/schoolad.asp
Comments can be submitted until 4:30pm on Wednesday 22 February 2012.
You can email comments to [email protected] or by post to Schools and Learning Business Support, Isle of Wight Council, County Hall, Newport, PO30 1UD.
