Liberal Democrats fighting for local parents

Monica Harding MP and the local Liberal Democrat Councillors in Long Ditton have been working with parents objecting to the changes to admission policies being suggested by Hinchley Wood Secondary School (HWS).

Before the proposals were launched, the children who attended Claygate Primary, Hinchley Wood Primary, Long Ditton St Mary’s and Thames Ditton Junior School, the four feeder schools for HWS, had their applications for the school judged on equal merit.

However, the proposals put forward by HWS favoured children who attended Hinchley Wood Primary and Thames Ditton Juniors, the two schools which are part of the HWLP (Hinchley Wood Learning Partnership) Academy group.

The suggested proposals would have disadvantaged the pupils from Claygate Primary and Long Ditton St Mary’s (the two non-Academy Schools), as their applications would have been processed after applications from Hinchley Wood Primary and Thames Ditton Junior.

Local parents have felt pressured against choosing Long Ditton St Mary’s – which only last year was awarded an OFSTED ‘Outstanding’ rating. Long Ditton Councillor Jez Langham said, “If carried out these changes will discriminate against children attending Long Ditton St Mary’s - and threaten the funding and potentially even the existence of this fantastic local school. Academies should not be able to manipulate the rules in this way.”

On 6th March,HWS Local Governors and HWLP Trustees announced that the admission policies would not change. Monica Harding MP expressed delight in the news:

“I am very pleased to hear that Hinchley Wood School will keep its current admissions arrangements in place. This is a good result for all our local schools - thank you to all who contributed to this successful conclusion and the leadership at Hinchley Wood Learning Partnership.

We have outstanding schools in Esher and Walton and I am very proud to represent them. I will continue to call for better support and funding for the brilliant work you do for all our children.”

More information about the HWS decision can be found here: https://www.hinchleywoodschool.co.uk/5128/consultation-outcome-hws-admission-arrangements-for-2026