We, the Claygate Class Action group from Claygate Primary School are campaigning about the severe lack of viable secondary school places available to Claygate Residents. The reasons for this are as follows: The situation currently facing many Claygate families is dire. - This year at first allocation only 47.5% of year 6 pupils at Claygate Primary School were offered their 1st choice of school (compared to the national figure of 83.2%). Only 67.5% were offered one of their 3 choices versus a national average of 94.6%. - Over a quarter of year 6 children were not offered any of their choices of secondary education. Instead they were initially offered places at schools, which were neither local nor accessible. This situation will further deteriorate over the next few years because: - Many of the pupils who did gain their 1st choice place did so on the sibling rule rather than on distance. - The graduating class of 2010 will be 75 compared to 43 this year. Thereafter there are 60 pupils per year. Furthermore, this September Claygate Primary School will increase its intake for 2009 entry to 90 children at the Council’s request. - The planned extensive development of new homes on the MOD site in Hinchley Wood will mean even more competition for places. - In December 2008 the Surrey Council Organisation Plan recommended that 2 additional classes were urgently needed in the secondary phase of education in Elmbridge. An extra 30 places were added only after strong pressure from the Claygate community. It further recommends that over the course of the next 10 years a further 5 to 6 classes need to be made available in Elmbridge if numbers continue to increase. We urgently need as many signatures as possible to encourage the Council to take immediate action and change their secondary school admissions policy. Thank you for your support.