Traditional school catchment areas could be scrapped under plans being considered by a council. Councillors in Bury are set to agree to hold a period of public consultation over the plans, which would affect council secondary schools in the borough.
The council sets the admission criteria for community secondary schools and there are four in Bury - The Elton High School, The Derby High School, Philips High School and Parrenthorn High School.
Academies and voluntary aided schools set their own admission policies, but the council said they have traditionally followed the same arrangements as council schools. And with a new secondary school on the way - in Radcliffe within two years - the move would be welcomed by many families.
The council said catchment areas haven't been reviewed for years and, as a result of school closures and new housing developments, some have become very large. Bosses said the current admissions policy gives higher priority to children who live within a designated catchment area than children with siblings in the school and children who may live geographically closer, but not within the specified catchment area.
In some cases, said the council, children reside in a catchment area of a school which is further away and less accessible than their nearest geographically located school. The proposed change will remove the barrier for admission to the nearest school, due to the locally set historic boundaries of a catchment area.
If a school is over-subscribed, priority will be given firstly to 'looked after' children, then those with an older brother or sister at the school, and then to those living nearest the school. The change, if adopted, would come into effect for applications for secondary school places for the academic year 2024/25.
In a statement, the council said: "Bury Council sets the admission criteria for community secondary schools - there are four in Bury: Elton, The Derby, Philips and Parrenthorn.
"Academies and voluntary aided schools set their own admission policies: however, they have traditionally followed the same arrangements as council schools. There will be another academy in the next two years – the new high school in Radcliffe – which will also have an effect on where parents choose to send their children."
The council's ruling cabinet committee is due to meet on Wednesday evening. If agreed, a period of public consultation on the plans would take place from October to December this year, with a final decision made by next February.
A report to be considered at the meeting reads: "A catchment area is a geographical area, from which children may be afforded priority for admission to a particular school. A catchment area is part of a school's admission arrangements and must therefore be consulted upon, determined, and published in the same way as other admission arrangements.
"Discussions have taken place with neighbouring local authorities as to their admission arrangements. Removing catchment areas would align with our neighbouring local authorities' admissions policies whilst complying with the School Admissions Code."
Councillor Lucy Smith, cabinet member for children and young people, said: "Catchment areas have not been reviewed for many years and, as a result of school closures or new housing developments, some catchment areas are very large. It's important we get this right, as it affects many thousands of people across the borough.
"Some schools may not have the capacity to accommodate the growing number of children living in its designated catchment area and, in some cases, children live in a catchment area of a school which is actually further away and less accessible than their nearest geographically located school."
Of the 13 secondary schools in Bury, four are community schools, eight are academies and one is voluntary aided. The new Radcliffe school is expected to admit its first cohort of pupils in September, 2024.
