Wimborne Academy Trust is proposing to reduce its admissions number for the reception year group at Hillside Community First School from 60 to 30.
A consultation has been started by the Trust, details of which you can view on its website, and responses must be submitted by Friday 15th January 2021.
In a letter to parents and carers, the school says the move is a result of the recent reduction in the number of young families living in the local area, however, it feels with the building of over 200 new homes in the area, the move could be short sighted.
The school also says the change in the number of admissions would result in decreased funding for the school, fewer teachers and staff, and not as much support for before and after school clubs.
A Facebook Group has been created named ‘Save the future of Hillside First School‘ and an online petition can be found here to try and stop the plan.
The BRS Coaching Academy, which works with the school, says it is disappointed by the decision for WAT to consult over Christmas ‘when exhausted staff should be recuperating but are now concerned about their futures is poor’.
Upon the conclusion of the consultation period, the Trust says all responses will be considered carefully and a report will be presented to the Trust Board prior to the determination deadline on 28th February 2021.
Hillside was the first First School to open in Verwood in 1967, and is now one of three along with Verwood First School and Trinity First School.
You can see full details of the admission policy for the school here.
If you’d like to have your say, send them to:
Hillside Community First School
Hillside Road
Verwood
BH31 7HE
or by email to
office@hillsidefirst.dorset.sch.uk
The key dates for the consultation are:
- Consultation begins – 4th December 2020
- Consultation ends – 15th January 2021
- Determine Admission Arrangements – 28th February 2021
- Publish Admission Arrangements – 15th March 2021
- Deadline for Objections to Office of the School’s Adjudicator – 15th May 2021