A school has proposed giving children of employees priority admission over other youngsters in a bid to “attract the best staff”.
Children of staff linked to the school – including feeder primary schools – would be included.
Warden Park Academy, which became an academy earlier this year, made the proposal last week.
On Thursday children at the secondary, which has about 1,500 pupils enrolled, were sent home with a letter for their parents.
The letter announced that a consultation was due to take place which would look at the school’s admissions policy.
If given the go-ahead the changes would be introduced in September 2013.
The letter said that the main changes from the current arrangements are that, in the event of Warden Park being oversubscribed, some priority would be given to certain groups including brothers and sisters of students who have attended Warden Park at “any time”.
It read: “Currently this priority only applies to brothers and sisters of students who are at Warden Park in years seven to ten at the time of the application.
“The change will be of benefit to families who have already established good relationships with the academy.”
The changes will also affect children who have attended another school that is a member of the Warden Park Academy Trust. This will assist progression between the primary and secondary phases, as well as promoting shared values across trust academies.
The changes would also cover: “…children of Warden Park Academy trust staff. This will help to attract the best staff to Warden Park and make it easier for our all members of our staff to support after-school activities.”
Trust schools affiliated with Warden Park, which is in Broad Street, Cuckfield, Haywards Heath, include Warden Park Primary, which was, until a few days ago, known as Heyworth Primary School in New England Road, Haywards Heath.
Parents and members of the community have until March 1 to comment on the issues.
Respond to jrees@wardenpark.co.uk or write to Ms J. Rees, Warden Park Academy Trust, Broad Street, Cuckfield.
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