08 Mar 2024
Pupils denied a place at St Albans’ popular Beaumont School after the county council reduced the number of forms for Year 7 have fresh hope of securing a slot following a major reversal in policy.
HCC and Beaumont School have now agreed that the school will offer additional places for this September, bringing the total number of places available for the academic year 2024/2025 to 240.
This decision has been made jointly following discussions with the Department for Education.
It follows extensive media coverage by the St Albans Times, which broke the story on Saturday and has provided a platform for disappointed parents to share their views and experiences.
The arrangement was confirmed at a meeting of the school’s trustees yesterday (Thursday 7 March), following HCC’s agreement to provide revenue funding to support these places for this year (2024/25).
County council leader Cllr Richard Roberts said: “I understand the disappointment of parents who applied for places at Beaumont School for September this year but were not successful.
“Allocating school places is always a complex issue and the outcomes are determined by lots of factors, not just distance. I’m pleased we’ve worked with the school, including consultation with the Department for Education, to come to an agreement for this year. I’m also pleased that every child living in the parish of St Albans has been allocated a place at a ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ school within the city.
“We will continue to work with the school to be absolutely clear of the plan for the next academic school intake in 2025, and as they develop longer term plans with the Department for Education.”
Beaumont headteacher Martin Atkinson welcomed the news: “Beaumont School is an intrinsic part of the community in the east of St Albans, which it has served for over 80 years. Following discussions with the Department for Education and the county council’s agreement to provide revenue funding to support additional places, we are delighted that we can continue to offer outstanding opportunities to more students in our local area.
“This is consistent with our ongoing strategic priorities and our long-term commitment to the local community. We look forward to working with the county council and the Department for Education to secure a sustainable provision for admissions in the local area.”
The additional temporary places will be allocated in the first run of the ‘Continuing Interest’ process towards the end of the week commencing March 25. Parents do not have to reapply, any unsuccessful applicants will automatically be reconsidered for a place, and parents will be informed by email if a place can be offered.
The decision follows an urgent letter from MP Daisy Cooper’s to the Secretary of State for Education, and persistent lobbying from local Lib Dem councillors.
Daisy said: “This decision will be a huge relief to a number of families in the local area, but it should never have taken a letter from me to the Secretary of State to secure it..
“There are serious questions for Hertfordshire County Council to answer about why this was handled so badly and why it took an intervention at the highest level to secure this screeching U-turn.
“I will continue to work with Liberal Democrat County Councillors to ensure that such a fiasco cannot happen again and that we can secure commitments for keeping this 8th class, beyond September, for future years as well.”
County councillor Anthony Rowlands said: “I am incredibly pleased that we have reached such a positive outcome..
“The breakdown in communication between the Conservative controlled Hertfordshire County Council and the Department for Education caused an understandable mounting storm of anger from residents. This never should have happened..
“We’re very lucky here in St Albans and have a number of really good schools, but issues with proximity and lack of choice left parents facing really challenging decisions. We will continue to work with Beaumont School to ensure that this doesn’t happen again.’’
SADC leader and county councillor Chris White added: “A large number of parents contacted me, very distressed about this situation. This should never have been allowed to happen. Thankfully it’s partially solved by the announcement today. I think we all need reassurance that the County Council will learn from this fiasco and that we won’t be here again this time next year.‘’
