Special needs school plan amended

Parents of girls at Broomhill Bank want the school to be left alone

Changes to a special needs school in Kent are being moved forward but with amendments to the original proposals.

Broomhill Bank is a girls-only boarding school for pupils up to the age of 19.

The county council has said the school can maintain its upper age limit, but should become co-educational and also lose its residential provision.

A notice for the changes will now be published, but just one objection would mean there would have to be a referral to an independent schools adjudicator.

Broomhill Bank spokesman Phil Barnett said: "I'm almost certain there will be an objection.

"But then it's almost the toss of a coin as to whether the adjudicator would find in favour of the team at the school or Kent County Council."

Parent 'disappointed'

Pupils, parents, teachers and governors have campaigned against the proposed changes, public meetings have been staged, and a debate was held in the House of Commons by Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark.

The results of a public consultation were almost universally against the changes, with concerns about the school taking boys and ultimately not having any boarders.

The original proposals had also been for Broomhill Bank to only admit pupils up to 16 in future, but a School Organisation Advisory Board (SOAB) meeting on Wednesday agreed the upper age should remain at 19.

But parent Anna Davis is concerned about the plan for mixed education.

"I'm disappointed about the introduction of boys. It certainly wouldn't benefit my daughter," she said.

The loss of residential provision would not apply to current pupils.