A NEW model has been proposed in the controversial Leigh school catchment areas debate.

After a month of public meetings which allowed parents to voice their opinions about the previous two models A and B, James Courtenay, councillor for children and learning said that a new “model K” has been proposed for the September 2019 intake.

He said: “We have undertaken a comprehensive listening and engagement phase ahead of the required formal consultation, and the new proposed model for catchment areas in the Leigh area is a direct result of that process.”

The new model proposes to move sections of school catchment areas from West Leigh to Leigh North Street, from Leigh North Street to Darlinghurst and from Chalkwell Hall to Darlinghurst.

Roads within the current West Leigh catchment will have a separate “priority area”, giving those roads priority in years where the school is under subscribed.

Model A proposed to shrink the catchment areas of West Leigh, Leigh North Street and Chalkwell Hall and increasing that of Darlinghurst Primary and Eastwood Primary and moving the borders of Blenheim and Fairways.

Model B proposed a “super catchment” for West Leigh School, Leigh North Street Primary School, Chalkwell Hall School and Darlinghurst School.

The catchments would be replaced by a ‘shared priority area’ with a specified point that would measure the distance from a child’s home, rather than the distance from the school.

Following the consultation, the new model was deemed to be more effective than either model A or B.

Mr Courtenay added: “We believe that given the options available to us, this model is best suited to manage the demand for places in West Leigh.”

A detailed report on the new proposal will be considered by Southend Council’s cabinet on Tuesday.

Councillors will be asked to approve the option to be taken to a formal consultation from November 6 to December 15.