BOYS in Bournemouth will have a better chance of getting into the town's grammar school if proposed changes to its admission policy go ahead.

Head teacher of Bournemouth School Dr Dorian Lewis hopes to change over-subscription criteria to give priority to boys living in the borough.

And he hopes that more boys from disadvantaged backgrounds will take up places at the East Way school.

The school already works closely with Bournemouth School for Girls, Poole Grammar and Parkstone Grammar in a bid to implement a common entrance test.

And Dr Lewis said the difference in admission policies between Bournemouth School and Poole Grammar was causing confusion for parents and prospective students.

"Since I joined the school I have tried to establish closer and more productive relationships with the local community and the local authority in particular" he said.

"We are clearly signalling our commitment to being an integral part of the secondary provision in Bournemouth and we will be working with Bournemouth School for Girls to strengthen links with local primary schools.

"We are particularly keen to offer our support to able pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds who would benefit from our provision. Using education as a means of securing social mobility for such children is, for me, the reason that grammar schools exist."

Dr Lewis said students from outside the borough can still apply and that he expects some students to continue to attend from other areas.

There will be a full consultation later this year and, if accepted, the changes will come into effect for pupils starting in September 2018.

PANEL:

In the event of the school being oversubscribed priority will be given in the following order.

a. Eligible boys who are classed as ”Looked After” or have previously been ‘Looked After’

b. Eligible boys who live within the Borough of Bournemouth who receive Pupil Premium

c. Eligible boys who live within the Borough of Bournemouth and who do not receive Pupil Premium

d. Eligible boys who live outside the Borough of Bournemouth, who receive Pupil Premium in rank order of the entrance test scores

e. Eligible boys who live outside the Borough of Bournemouth who do not receive Pupil Premium, in rank order of the entrance test scores