Parents' meeting over schools move

By Sandra Perry

AN open meeting is being held in Bishop's Stortford next week to thrash out parents' concerns over future admissions policy if the town's two single-sex schools relocate.

Bishop's Stortford High and Herts & Essex High have submitted a planning application to expand by moving to a shared 50-acre site on Green Belt land off Whittington Way ready to open in September 2011. East Herts District Council is yet to schedule a special development control committee meeting to discuss the proposal.

But Richard Hannah, chairman of the town's civic federation which represents 6,000 households, said today, Monday October 20: "We have been aware that a number of parents with children who will be eligible for primary schools are concerned about how the new schools' move will affect their parental choice.

"Furthermore they are concerned that given the freedom of admissions policy being applied by the schools and the wide catchment outside of the Bishop's Stortford area that their choice will not be guaranteed."

Flyers are going out to parents and head teachers of primary schools in the area.

The federation and Old Thorley & Twyford Park Residents' Association are organising the open meeting on Tuesday October 28 at Thorley Park Community Centre, Friedberg Avenue, at 7.30pm. It will be hosted by Thorley Manor Residents' Association and Mr Hannah will chair it.

Local volunteer speakers from the field of education will form a panel and lead the discussion.