School Admissions Proposals Cut Access For Richmond Girls To Waldegrave

6.15.00pm GMT Mon 13th Dec 2004

Proposals by Richmond Council to change the admissions rules for secondary schools would significantly reduce access for girls in Barnes, Mortlake, East Sheen, Kew and parts of Richmond town to the popular Waldegrave School for Girls. The eastern half of the borough would be in a catchment area allocated only 15% of places.

Susan Kramer, PPC for Richmond Park (Lib Dems) has objected to the change: "As the only all-girls secondary in the borough, Waldegrave must be accessible to girls from the Richmond side.

"The school is very successful and popular and the Council must realise that some girls thrive in single sex education while others prefer and do well in integrated schools.

"We all pay our council tax equally and its no good the Tories talking about choice when they are removing the only realistic opportunity for many Richmond girls to attend a single sex school."