CAROLINE CHISHOLM SCHOOL ADMISSIONS CONSULTATION
Dear Parents 16th November 2011
Attached to this letter is the consultation document from Caroline Chisholm School relating to admission
into the Secondary phase of the school as of September 2013. It is my hope that you will have an
opportunity to comment on proposed new criteria that have been devised by Caroline Chisholm School
and is supported by all of our local schools, including us here at Preston Hedges. Our aim is that these
proposed criteria gives us the opportunity to secure places for our children, who live locally, at their
local secondary school. Outlined below is the School’s position in relation to these criteria.
Background
For a couple of years there has been anxiety locally from parents and pupils about transition into our
local secondary school. In 2010 the school strongly opposed a plan to introduce a randomizer for the
secondary phase of entry which could have resulted in many of our pupils not reaching
Caroline Chisholm School after Year 6.
At this point in 2010, along with members of the Governing Body, I argued in the Council Chambers for
this to be rejected. Eventually, after the involvement of an adjudicator, the proposed introduction of
the randomiser was scrapped. Since this decision, the anxiety faced by parents whose children are
moving to secondary education has not gone away. Hence, a great deal of time and effort have been
invested in developing criteria that provide a fair solution for all the community.
The Future under the proposal
These new criteria would give a greater priority to children who live locally and attend one of the cluster
schools.
What happens next?
For the consultation to be successful it requires broad community support. It is therefore vitally
important that as many of you as possible respond to the consultation. If the consultation is not
successful places for our children in the secondary phase at Caroline Chisholm School would be far less
secure in future years. I firmly believe that this is the best long term option for the community.
Finally, can I take this opportunity to thank Principal Downing and the Governing Body of
Caroline Chisholm School for their hard work and commitment which has enabled us to get to this point.
Thank you for your continued support.
Yours sincerely
PAUL WATSON
Headteacher