Schools objecting to admissions change

These are the stark views from three Christchurch schools objecting to plans by Highcliffe School to change its admission policy to include youngsters from Mudeford Junior.

The contentious and long-running battle by the Highcliffe secondary is due to be discussed at County Hall on Monday and follows public consultation on the proposals.

Parents in Mudeford have been campaigning for several years for the right to send their children to nearer Highcliffe and not the Grange as is currently the case.

Governors at Highcliffe agree and want children from Mudeford to have that choice from September next year.

But Dorset education chiefs will hear that the town's two other secondaries have strongly objected, as well as a primary school.

"It is alarming to me that a school which is supposed to be working with the Grange to the benefit of all local children should be making such a proposal," said Mark Stenton, new head at the Grange.

"It flies in the face of collaboration."

Dr Terry Fish at Twynham School agrees. "To give Mudeford Juniors the choice will do nothing to support the Grange and will simply reinforce unjustified prejudices," he said.

"This will do nothing other than damage the Grange - a school in challenging circumstances which has made huge progress in recent years."

Mike Peirce, chair of governors at Somerford Primary said: "It is disappointing that Dorset County Council and governors of both schools (Highcliffe and Mudeford) are so openly endorsing the social prejudices that abound in Christchurch."

Stephen Prewitt, Dorset's director of children's services, says governors at Highcliffe are aware of the objections but have the power to carry on regardless.

He says local heads and governors will still be able to object via the schools' adjudicator.

Cllr John Lofts, a governor at Highcliffe, says he hasn't yet read the objections or met with other governors so cannot comment.

"But I'll be at the meeting on Monday," he added.