A BOROUGH high school has been inundated with prospective pupils who live outside of its catchment area.
Staff from RSA Academy Arrow Vale say they have received a high volume of Walkwood and Ridgeway Middle School children applying for places, despite both the schools usually feeding into Tudor Grange Academy Redditch.
It is thought the increase is partly being driven by the proposed age range changes at TGAR which were met with fierce opposition by many parents, as well as Arrow Vale’s outstanding rating by Ofsted.
Principal Guy Shears said they had so many parents showing an interest in the school they had decided to operate a direct bus service which would collect and drop off children close to the middle schools as of next year.
“We had a significant number of parents coming around the school saying it was amazing.” he said.
“We always get a few from Ridgeway and Walkwood but this year it has definitely increased. One of the main concerns for parents was their children having to catch two buses to school everyday, so we wanted to address that.
“People seem to be recognising Arrow Vale more and more. It has always been a growing product over the last couple of years, but I think since we were rated outstanding in May it has boosted interest.”
He added the school bus service would cost the same as commercial buses which run in the borough.
