School admissions appeal system unfair
PARENTS are fuming over what they believe to be an unfair system forcing them to send their children to schools not of their choice.
Mum Jayne Holmes, of Soothill, is protesting against the admissions process used by Kirklees Council for children entering secondary schools.
Spen Valley Sports College was her first preference for daughter Anna. But in March she was told Anna had been given a seat at Batley Girls' High School instead.
Her appeal against the decision was knocked back at a hearing last week.
She said: "They say it's an independent appeals panel but it's not because the three members are taken on by Kirklees Council. None of the panel members are from this area and they will not tell you their background."
Four Kirklees education officers were also at the hearing.
Mrs Holmes said: "They say it's an informal hearing but it's not. The atmosphere is awful.
"I felt they had made their decision before I even put my case forward. They just took five minutes to make the decision."
The hearing procedure consists of officers explaining why the place was allocated and then each parent is given the chance to put their appeal case forward.
Mrs Holmes launched her appeal on human rights grounds, saying her daughter had a right to attend a mixed-sex school.
The only options in the Batley area are Batley Girls' High School and Batley Business and Enterprise College, which are both single sex.
She said: "The human rights issue was the main thing but they didn't even address that at the hearing."
She was told the decision was made on distance and travel arrangement issues.
But Mrs Holmes said arrangements were easy as she works near the Spen Valley school and Anna already attends dance classes next to the school a few nights a week.
Mrs Holmes said: "The three schools that people are wanting to go to are Mirfield Free Grammar, Castle Hall in Mirfield and Spen Valley. They are co-educational and there is a good mix of children.
"But if you are not in the postcode area you don't get into these three good schools.
"The whole system of picking schools is farcical. Why don't they say it? It's just about where you live.
"You are in a no-win situation."
She added: "I have got nothing against Batley Girls' School. Every time I've spoken to them they have always been extremely helpful."
Now she is considering taking her case to the ombudsman.
A council spokeswoman said: "We do not comment on individual schools admissions appeals."
She said the appeals panel members were entirely independent and added: "No councillors or current or ex-employees of the council are permitted on the panel which is made up of a mixture of people with education experience and 'lay' people."
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ONE mother has won her appeal against the council's decision to send her twins to different schools.
Lynne Stainton, of Birstall, put down Morley High School as first choice for her 11-year-old twins Sam and Olivia. But in March she was told Sam was allocated a place at the boys' school, Batley Business and Enterprise College, and Olivia given a place at Batley Girls' High School.
Mrs Stainton said: "I have got twins, a boy and a girl. I put on my option form that I wanted them to be in the same school. But Kirklees was going to split the children up and send them to different schools.
"That was my grievance – that they just didn't read what I put on that form.
"You shouldn't be put in that position. It's a total nightmare. There should be a co-education option in this area."
Her appeal was against the decision made by Leeds City Council.
And Kirklees told her it was not a priority to put siblings together.
But at the last appeal hearing her argument was accepted and the twins will start at Spen Valley Sports College in September – which was Mrs Stainton's second choice option.
She said: "When we were refused both times I felt they would not have gone to school in September. I would have considered home schooling. I didn't want to send my son to the boys' school. I know other parents who have lost their appeals. We don't have any choice in our catchment area other than single-sex schools.
"When you leave school you go into a mixed-sex environment. A co-ed school prepares them for that."
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Sunday 05 February 2012
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