Angry parents pack out public meeting

3:10pm Tuesday 26th April 2005

ANGRY parents packed out a public meeting to discuss why their children had been denied places at their preferred grammar schools.

The Gerrards Cross and Denham families said they felt let down by Buckinghamshire County Council at the meeting organised by two mothers.

The Conservative candidate for Beaconsfield, Dominic Grieve, was on their side.

He said he would write to the council, asking it to find places for the children.

The parents' rage stems from changes made to the admissions policy for secondary schools in the county.

The parents live in the catchment areas of two girls' schools; Beaconsfield High and Dr Challoner's High, and two boys' schools; The Royal Grammar School and Dr Challoner's Grammar.

The admissions policy now states where schools are oversubscribed (have more children applying than there are places) those living closer take precedence.

The four schools are all full with children who live closer. Youngsters from Gerrards Cross and Denham have been allocated places at schools their parents do not want.

One of the mothers, Ingrid Gamble, said when the LEA put forward its changes, the understanding was that more children would be able to go to their preferred schools.

"We were very, very, happy. We thought it would be clear and fair," she said.

Parents had been told there would be enough places for children to be able to go to the school if they lived in its catchment area. It would be those living outside a catchment area who might not be able to get in.

"We believed them," said Mrs Gamble.

"We were dumbfounded when we were allocated Chalfont Community College. The admissions policy wasn't worth the paper it was written on.

"Because we lived in Denham our son didn't stand a chance."

Tracey Harvey, whose son got maximum marks in the 11 plus, said that children who had scored as low as 116 were getting in to grammar schools on appeal.

The consequence was that the four grammar schools had run out of places.

She said: "How could the LEA get it so wrong with all four grammar schools? That is nothing short of a disgrace."

She had been offered Burnham Grammar School, but there are no transport links and no community links she said.

Some parents at the meeting, whose children had obtained high marks in the 11 plus, objected to children who got a place on appeal ahead of their own children.

Mr Grieve said it might be possible to differentiate between children who passed the test and those who got in on appeal, but the appeal children might feel they had been unfairly treated.

He said: "It is clear that the policy put forward last year in good faith to resolve difficulties has not worked here."

He added what was eventually needed was a new grammar school, perhaps in Gerrards Cross, but the council was not allowed to provide one.

"I will work very hard to try to get this resolved, " said Mr Grieve.

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