The suggestion that KCC has given for this relocation is to cover South Sittingbourne, with a "Church" school who dictate the admission criteria, location is not a deciding factor. If you go to Church in Bapchild, Bicknor, Borden, Bredgar, Eastchurch, Frinstead, Hartlip, Iwade, Lower Halstow, Milstead, Milton Regis, Minster in Sheppey with Halfway, Queenborough & Sheerness, Murston, Newington, Rodmersham, Sittingbourne, Stockbury, Tonge, Upchurch, Wormshill & Tunstall
Will be given priority over those who choose not to go to Church in Tunstall Road, Ruins Barn Road, Woodstock Road, Cromers Road, Chegworth Gardens or Cranbrook Drive - ALL ROADS THAT WILL BE AFFECTED

So why is KCC taking such an active role in Tunstall Church of England Voluntary Aided School, when all they have to do is provide the playing fields?????

#323: - KCC WALK TO SCHOOL 

Please see below for details of Tunstall School's Admissions Criteria for 2014 taken from http://www.tunstall.kent.sch.uk/admissions.asp

Please note: only those children with an affiliation with Tunstall or Rodemersham churches get 'priority' over those living in the Ecclesiatical Parish. Therefore, not only those living in the roads mentioned in post "#323: KCC Walk to School" (Tunstall Road, Ruins Barn Road, Woodstock Road, Cromers Road, Chegworth Gardens, Cranbrook Drive) will get 'priority' over those at other churches, and other criteria, but also anyone living in roads including Park Drive, Park Avenue, Sterling Road, Bradley Drive, Woodside Gardens, Woodcourt Close, Roseleigh Road, Fernleigh Terrace, Doves Croft, and Minterne Avenue (part).

I hope this helps clarify that those attending churches in Bapchild, Bicknor, Borden, Bredgar, Eastchurch, Frinstead, Hartlip, Iwade, Lower Halstow, Milstead, Milton Regis, Minster in Sheppey with Halfway, Queenborough & Sheerness, Murston, Newington, Sittingbourne (ex Tunstall and Rodmersham), Stockbury, Tonge, Upchurch and Wormshill, would not currently be given priority over those non-churchgoers living not only the roads mentioned in post "#323: KCC Walk to School", but actually in many other roads.

Summary:

1. Looked after Children/Children in Local Authority Care

2. Children who will have a sibling in the school at the time of entry

3. Children with Tunstall or Rodmersham Church affiliation for at least 1 year

4. Children resident in the Ecclesiastical Parish of Tunstall (see http://www.achurchnearyou.com/ & enter ME9 8DX for a map that defines the Ecclesiastical Parish of Tunstall)

5. Children with affiliations to other Anglican Churches within the Deanery of Sittingbourne

6. Children with other Church affiliation at churches in membership with ‘Churches together in Sittingbourne’

7. Children of staff

8. Children with medical, health, social and special access reasons

9. When children in categories 1 to 7 have been admitted, any remaining places will be offered to those living closest to the school

 

Details:

1. Looked after Children/Children in Local Authority Care:

Children in Local Authority Care – a child under the age of 18 years for whom the local authority provides accommodation by agreement with their parents/carers (Section 22 of the Children Act 1989) or who is the subject of a care order under Part IV of the Act. This applies equally to children who immediately after being looked after by the local authority became subject to an adoption, residence or special guardianship order. (As defined by Section 46 of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 or Section 8 or 14A of the Children Act 1989)

2. Children who will have a sibling in the school at the time of entry:

A brother or sister attending the school when the child starts. In this context brother or sister means children who live as brother or sister in the same house, including natural brothers and sisters, adopted siblings, step-brothers or sisters and foster brothers and sisters. The sibling link is maintained as long as the family lives at the same address as when the first child applied, or has moved closer to the school than when the first child was offered a place, or has moved to an address that is less than 2 miles from the school using the distance measured by the method outlined by the distance criteria.

3. Children with Tunstall or Rodmersham Church affiliation for at least 1 year:

Applications falling within category 3 will need to obtain the recommendation of their minister of religion confirming that children and either one or both parents have been affiliated with the church for a period not less than 12 months. See note regarding Membership.

4. Children resident in the Ecclesiastical Parish of Tunstall. See notes.

5. Children with affiliations to other Anglican Churches within the Deanery of Sittingbourne:

Applications falling within category 5 will need to obtain the recommendation of their minister of religion confirming that children and either one or both parents have been affiliated with the church for a period not less than 12 months. See note regarding Membership.

6. Children with other Church affiliation at churches in membership with ‘Churches together in Sittingbourne’:

Applications falling within category 6 will need to obtain the recommendation of their minister of religion confirming that children and either one or both parents have been affiliated with the church for a period not less than 12 months. See note regarding Membership.

7. Children of staff: Where the member of staff has been employed for at least two years at the time when the application is made; OR where the member of staff has been recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a clear skill shortage.

8. Children with medical, health, social and special access reasons:

Medical, health, social and special access reasons will be applied in accordance with the school’s legal obligations, in particular those under the Equality Act 2010. Priority will be given to those children whose mental or physical impairment means they have a demonstrable and significant need to attend a particular school. Equally this priority will apply to children whose parents’/guardians’ physical or mental health or social needs mean that they have a demonstrable and significant need to attend a particular school. Such claims will need to be supported by written evidence from a suitably qualified medical or other practitioner who can demonstrate a special connection between these needs and the particular school.

9. When children in categories 1 to 7 have been admitted, any remaining places will be offered to those living closest to the school:

Nearness of children's homes to school - we use the distance between the child’s permanent home address and the school, measured in a straight line using Ordnance Survey address point data. Distances are measured from a point defined as within the child’s home to a point defined as within the school as specified by Ordnance Survey. The same address point on the school site is used for everybody.