East Surrey MP Peter Ainsworth has today written to Andrew Webster, the Strategic Director for Families and Services for Families at Surrey County Council, to express alarm at the Council’s proposal to exclude children from Godstone, Lingfield and Dormansland from the catchment area for Oxted School with effect from 2009.
The proposals would make the catchment area for Oxted School smaller, with those children living closer to the school when measured as the crow flies being given priority. The proposal will affect approximately 128 children every year.
Mr Ainsworth said of the proposals:
“I am deeply concerned that children from Godstone, Dormansland and Lingfield may in future be excluded from attending Oxted School. This would cause enormous difficulty for local families and fundamentally alter the relationship between communities in the south of Tandridge with Oxted.”
“To base this catchment area on distance measured “as the crow flies” takes no account of local geography or transport links. I do not know many crows who go to school!”
He went on to say:
“The recommendation is all the more surprising given that the Schools Adjudicator’s findings last year clearly stated that Lingfield and Dormansland are rural communities and as such deserved special consideration. I hope that the council will take the time to listen to the valid concerns surrounding this issue during the consultation period, and I urge as many people as possible to respond”.
The Consultation can be found here
ENDS
The full text of Peter Ainsworth’s letter is as follows:
28 th November 2007
I have recently been made aware of proposed changes to the schools admissions policy as agreed by the Executive Committee of Surrey County Council on 6 November 2007, and which are due to be put to public consultation.
It is my understanding that the changes being proposed will mean that children from Godstone, Lingfield and Dormansland shall be excluded from the catchment area of Oxted School with effect from 2009. Needless to say the roposals have caused alarm in the communities concerned.
I am convinced that this recommendation will not meet the needs of the local community. Furthermore, this proposal will be a shock to many parents and children who live in the area, especially given the Adjudicator’s findings last year which clearly stated that Lingfield and Dormansland are rural communities and as such deserve special consideration.
I would therefore appreciate it if you would explain why such proposals are under consideration.
Yours ever,
cc. Ken Rimington
cc Andrew Crisp
Andrew Webster Esq.
Strategic Director for Families and Services for Families
Surrey County Council
Rm 116 County Hall
Penrhyn Road
Kingston Upon Thames
KT1 2DN
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