Young people who have been forced to move school ARE being provided with support, an assurance has been given.

Earlier this month it was announced that St Andrew’s Church of England High School in Waddon would no longer offer places for Year 7-9. 

Children currently in Year 7 and Year 8 will be forced to move school while primary school children hoping to join the school in September have been turned down.

The reason behind the move is that the school in Warrington Road cannot offer the full national curriculum for key stage three.

It puts this down to a decline in the number of pupils applying to join.

In response to an update on education at Monday’s Croydon Council cabinet meeting, the subject was raised by Cllr Maria Gatland.

She said: “I do have to bring forward the situation at St Andrew’s as so many people have contacted us about that.

“For [incoming] Year 7, I imagine most of them won’t have St Andrews down as their preference but for Year 8 it clearly is going to be a huge change for them and their parents.

“You say they are going to go to good schools but can we have reassurance about that and about the meetings you’ve had with the parents and the children?”

Cabinet member for young people, children and learning Cllr Alisa Flemming stressed that the decision was not made by the council but by the school and Diocese of Southwark.

“I can assure you that discussions have taken place with all parents of young people involved,” said Cllr Flemming.

“Really, the issue was around the ability for the school to deliver a full enough curriculum moving forward.

“Children in Year 7 and 8 have been offered very good schools – I have to commend our school families for the way in which they have stepped up to the plate.”

Schools offering spaces to the displaced St Andrews pupils include Archbishop Tennison, Harris Academy in South Norwood, The Archbishop Lanfranc, St Mary’s and Norbury Manor Girls.

Cllr Flemming added: “They will have replacement uniforms provided for them and they have all been given the opportunity to move in their friendship groups, if need be.

“Year 9 and 10 will continue to work through the school and at the end the school will open again.

“So it is not technically closing down – It will recommission those places, moving forward as an all-through.

“Some of that will help to tackle issues around funding.

“Funding is something as a council we have to lobby national government about putting the right amount of money into and funding education for our young people.”