Impact by area:
Westdene/Withdean (BN1 5)

Children with a postcode of BN1 5 will be in the Hove Park High and Blatchington Mill catchment. Traditionally, parents sent their kids to either Dorothy Stringer or Blatchington Mill. Access to Dorothy Stringer will not be realistically possible under the new system. In September 2006, 51% of all BN1 5 children went to Dorothy Stringer whilst 11% went to Blatchington Mill. Children are therefore having their traditional links with schools severed.

Geographically, for many in BN1 5, Dororthy Stringer is their nearest school. Access will denied and these places will be given to children in the South East of the City (Queens Park/Hanover/Regency).

Please do not think that access to Blatchington Mill is guaranteed as it is not. Under the current proposal which operates a lottery for oversubscribed schools (an inevitable result under the type of system proposed) you have a good chance of getting Hove Park not Blatchington Mill. Hove Park Lower School is located in Hangleton a 2 to 3.5 mile drive depending on where you live.

It has been argued that BN1 5 parents want the Hove Park/Blatchington Mill Option. If you are not happy with this and want your links with Dorothy Stringer maintained then contact your Withdean councillors Ken Norman, Anne Norman, and Pat Drake and Council members of the Children Families and Schools Committee. Ken Norman, as a member of the Secondary Admission Group has voted FOR these proposals.

There are countless flaws with these proposals yet the Council is trying to rush them through without proper consultation. Balfour Junior, Stanford Junior and other schools have held recent public meetings. Why has Westdene primary not held a meeting to discuss this issue? The CFS meeting on 22nd January will decide which schools your children can apply to.