Welland Park Road, Market Harborough, Leicestershire. LE16 9DR Welland Park T: 01858 464795 F: 01858 433702 E: [email protected] Academy www.wellandparkacademy.com December 2014 Dear Parents Welland Park Academy is in the process of undertaking an age range change from 11 – 14 to 11 – 16 effective as of September 2016. We have submitted our business plan to the Department for Education and our Regional Schools Commissioner, Ms Jenny Bexon - Smith. We are currently awaiting confirmation that this change has been agreed which should happen in the next few weeks; all of our meetings and correspondence to date indicate our application should meet with approval. In order to ensure transparency and legal compliance we have taken Local Authority (LA) advice in the preparation of our consultation documentation. The next part of this consultation is to request all our stakeholders which include parents, local schools and the LA to read the documentation and make a response. The proposal is to reduce the Admission Number from 250 to 180 students. The reason for the reduction in the Admission Number is that Welland Park Academy currently accommodates 250 students in years 7, 8 and 9. Our aim is to accommodate 180 youngsters eventually in 5 year groups from years 7 – 11. With the proposed age range change Welland Park Academy will be able to accommodate 180 students in each year group. Between Robert Smyth Academy and Welland Park Academy we can ensure a local secondary school place for all students in 2016 and accommodate the significantly increased projected numbers for the future. You are very welcome to join us at school on Monday 19th January 2015 for a consultation evening regarding the Admissions Policy as follows. The consultation meeting will be held between 6.00 and 7.00pm in the school library, and will provide an opportunity for you to meet with senior staff and governors and ask any questions. Further details regarding the 11 – 16 changes and Admissions Policy can be found on our website along with a response form if you would like to comment on this proposal. Yours sincerely Dave Hedley Julie McBrearty Chair of Governors Principal Principal: Julie McBrearty Vice Principals: Kim Cottrell, Andy Turner 2014/15 .