PLANS to change admission arrangements at a Bournemouth grammar school have gone out to consultation.

Boys who pass the entrance test to Bournemouth School will be offered places in a new priority order from 2018 if the proposals go ahead.

Looked after children will be the top priority, followed by those eligible for the Pupil Premium Grant, those whop live within a new priority area, then remaining eligible boys.

Head teacher Dr Dorian Lewis had hoped to prioritise places to residents of the Borough of Bournemouth but was not allowed to do so by the Office of the School’s Adjudicator (OSA).

Instead it was suggested that the school defined a priority area, meaning some addresses are outside the borough but are still within easy travelling distance of the school.

The area has been defined using postcodes BH1 to BH11, BH23 1, BH23 2 and BH23 3.

Dr Lewis said: “We were surprised that the OSA concluded that we could not prioritise serving students from Bournemouth.

“Both Poole Grammar Schools have prioritised allocating places to Poole residents for a number of years. We want to serve principally the local area and continue to develop relationships with our local primary schools to encourage all able students, but especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to apply for a place at the school.

“I hope that all interested parties, whether in favour of the proposed changes or not, will respond to the consultation.”

The proposal will affect pupils who are currently in Year 5. The change in the policy makes it less likely that an applicant who passes the test but lives outside the priority area will be allocated a place at the school.

The consultation is open until August 25 and the policy will be published by September 1.

The OSA judgment and the revised policy can be seen at bournemouth-school.org/335/key-information/category/1/academyadmissions Comments should be submitted to The Admissions Team at the school or by email to office@bournemouth-school.org.