EDUCATION chiefs in Hampshire have revealed plans for a huge shake-up in school admissions procedures.

The move, based on government guidelines, is aimed at making the system both fairer and simpler when a school is over subscribed.

It follows discussions with headteachers, parents and governors at a forum held last month.

The changes include withdrawing the preference given to children who have a parent working at the school.

Instead, more priority will be given to siblings and pupils attending linked schools such as feeder primaries.

Governors will also be required to give parents clearer information about which home-to-school distance measurement they prefer. The shake-up, affecting community and voluntary controlled schools, comes just days after an independent appeals panel ruled in favour of the council in a dispute over places at Kings' School Winchester.

Seventy-seven families from outside the school's catchment area were told they would have to prove exceptional circumstances to overturn a bar on admissions which was imposed due to overcrowding fears.

A council spokesman said the new arrangements should be "clear, fair and objective" and "as simple as possible for parents to use".

Councillors were due to approve the guidelines today, with a view to their implementation in September next year.

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