The headteacher of a top performing college has reassured parents it will respect the results of a consultation on changes to its admission age.
Beauchamp College, in Oadby, is asking parents and staff for their views on proposals to begin admitting students from the age of 11, instead of 14 as it does at present – teaching them through to 19.
Kath Kelly, headteacher at the academy, in Ridge Way, said the exercise which, if agreed will come into force next year, was in response to moves by the town's two high schools – Manor High and Gartree High.
They are running simultaneous eight-week consultations on plans to extend their school ages from 14 to 16, ending the three-tier system of primary, middle and upper schools in the area.
Ms Kelly said: "We were concerned at first whether taking on more age groups would work.
"But faced with the prospect that, if we did nothing, the college would become unviable, we have embraced it as an opportunity."
The shake-up has sparked concerns among parents about how the move will affect their children.
They include catchment area alterations; eligibility to free transport; siblings being split up; restricted places for children in outlying areas, and reduced sixth form provision.
Beauchamp said it intends to retain pupil numbers at its current level, which stands at just over 2,000, with each year reduced to about 300.
Ms Kelly said: "This was basically forced upon us by the high schools and will mean seven year groups as opposed to four. Each year group will be smaller, and that will mean fewer places in the sixth form.
"At present, however, a lot of sixth formers are from outside the Oadby area. But under these proposals, a vast majority of the sixth form places will be taken up by Oadby children."
Gartree headteacher Sonia Singleton said moving to a two-tier primary/secondary system, as is happening in most of the county, and UK, will help drive up standards and improve parents' choice.
She said: "Our plan provides choice for parents, carers and families.
"It removes transition at 14 which in turn will support the improvement of educational outcomes at 16, to which we are fully committed."
The changes would also end a historical anomaly in the Oadby area in which children leave primary school a year earlier than elsewhere – aged 10 – to start high school in year six.
One parent, who did not want to be named, was concerned about his son, who is due to start high school this September, not being eligible to transfer to Beauchamp.
Ms Kelly said: "As Launde would be one of our partner schools, he would be eligible. Moving school a second time after just one year is not ideal, but then again the current system is not much better."
She added: "We want this to be a genuine consultation. If the local community says it wants the education system to remain as it is then we would accept that – as long as the high schools do the same."
The proposals, if adopted, must be approved by the Secretary of State for Education, and Leicestershire County Council. The consultations close on February 27.
www.beauchamp.org.uk
www.gartree.leics.sch.uk
www.manorhigh.leics.sch.uk
