main content Views sought about future of All Saints Catholic School

Views are being sought about a proposal to close All Saints Catholic School in August 2007. The school was formerly known as St John Rigby Roman Catholic College and has suffered falling pupil numbers in recent years.

Despite significant efforts to improve All Saints’ popularity, only 45 children are expected to be admitted to Year 7 in September 2006 when the school could take up to 210 pupils. The Council, Archdiocese of Southwark and the governors of All Saints have concluded it is no longer educationally or financially viable to continue to run the school.

In the event of closure Bromley Council would manage the process of finding alternative school places for existing pupils, mainly in Bromley, Croydon and Lewisham schools.

The proposals are explained in an information leaflet, ‘Consultation on the Future of All Saints Catholic School', which has been circulated widely and is available from Council offices and libraries and on the Council’s website (www.bromley.gov.uk). Copies are also available on request by calling 020 8313 4088.

Executive councillor for children and young people, Graham Arthur said: “I would urge everyone with an interest in this important consultation to respond with their views so that they can be taken into account in the decision making process”.

The deadline for responses is 17 March 2006 and there are a number of ways to do this: 

• complete and return the form contained in the leaflet (quoting freepost MB1140) 
• email the council at allsaintsconsultation@bromley.gov.uk
• use the feedback form on the Council's website www.bromley.gov.uk
• write to Ken Davis, Director of Education and Libraries, Civic Centre, Stockwell Close, Bromley BR1 3UH (quoting freepost MB1140)
• fax your responses to the council on 020 8313 4049

In addition to meetings for parents of existing students, which will be held at the school, public consultation meetings will also be held at Bromley Civic Centre, Stockwell Close, at 7pm on Wednesday 1 March, and at the All Saints Catholic School in Layhams Road, West Wickham, at 7pm on Wednesday 8 March.

ENDS

Notes to editors: 

All Saints is a Roman Catholic, Voluntary Aided, mixed comprehensive school 
Efforts to improve the quality of education and enhance the school’s popularity include: additional funding; increased management capacity; a fresh start with a new name; support for health and safety, teaching, and information and communication technology; refurbishment and enhanced resources. The headteacher, governors and staff, with the support of Council and Diocesan officers, have all worked tirelessly to raise standards 
Additional funding by Bromley Council, the Government, and the Archdiocese, above the school’s normal budget share, is in excess of £1m in 2005/06. A further £600,000 is proposed in 2006/07 
In 2005, a “federation” of four Bromley secondary schools was established which included All Saints Catholic School. This was part of a strategy to improve standards in a group of schools serving similar areas of disadvantage. As part of this Federation, All Saints received a one-off grant of £108,000 to enhance its ICT facilities, improve the use of management information to target support to pupils and support workforce remodelling. Challenging targets have been set for all schools in the Federation around pupil attainment and behaviour and close collaboration exists between staff to improve standards and quality of teaching.





For media enquiries, please contact Richard Simcox, communications officer at Bromley Council, on 020 8313 4310 email: richard.simcox@bromley.gov.uk
Further information is available at www.bromley.gov.uk