Impact by area:
Stanford ward

If you live in Stanford ward you will, under the proposals be in the Hove Park High and Blatchington Mill catchment. Most parents in Stanford currently choose Blatchington Mill for their children and would get a place they within easy walking distance. The current system gives priority to those living closer to the school. This ensures as many children as possible actually walk to school rather than use transport.

Under the new proposals there are at least 610 children in your catchment. It includes all of Hove (BN3 postcode) South Portslade (BN41 1) and Westdene (BN1 5). The 2 schools have 600 places available (300 at each).

Under the proposals ALL children (all 610) can apply for each school and will be considered equally for each school.

This means someone who lives in South Portslade has an equal chance of getting a place at Blatchington Mill who lives next door to the school. How is this possible you might ask. Under the new system presume:

610 children in catchment (per year)
450 apply for Blatchington Mill (it is more popular than Hove Park)
160 apply for Hove Park

Result:
Blatchington Mill only has 300 places. As all 450 applications are treated equally the school is now oversubscribed and a lottery (sorry random allocation) will be used to choose which 300 will get places.

For those applying to Blatchington there is only a 67% chance (450 applying / 300 places).

Those unlucky ones who lose in the lottery will probably get a place at Hove Park. This is not guaranteed as if the total catchment is oversubscribed, then some children will again (by lottery) be sent out of the catchment altogther, probably to Portslade Community College but possibly even further away.

Without doubt the new system will definitely result in some children who live near to Blacthington Mill, getting places at Hove Park lower school in Hangleton or at schools further away.

We believe this is unacceptable.

It will substantially increase car and bus journeys accorss the city.
Lotteries will split friends up from going to school together
Catchments split communities apart

Say no to catchments
Say no to lotteries for our children's education

ACT NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE:

Stanford has 2 (out of the 10) councillors on the Council Committee that will make the decision (Children Families and Schools Committee 'CFS'). You need to contact these councillors urgently by email or telephone to advice your opposition to the changes.

It is vitial you let your ward councillors know your views before Monday 22nd January. If you cannt do this then please contact them as soon as possible thereafter.

Vanessa Brown (Con): Stanford Ward councillor and member of CFS committee
vanessa.brown@brighton-hove.gov.uk
01273 291143

Jayne Bennett (Ind): Stanford Ward councillor and member of CFS committee
jayne.bennett@brighton-hove.gov.uk
01273 291135