Chance to change choice of school

12:47pm Thursday 6th March 2008

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PARENTS with children starting primary school in September have been given another chance to choose where they will start their education.

Herefordshire Council believes some parents may want to alter the school they chose as their decision was made seven days after the school closure proposals were announced.

With the controversial education review now scrapped, the council is urging parents to contact the schools admission team if they want to switch primary school.

Sharon Menghini, director of children's services, said: "We are aware that the announced draft proposals and their subsequent withdrawal may have caused confusion for some parents when they were applying for primary school places.

"There is already a well-established appeals procedure in place for parents who are unhappy with the school their child has been allocated. Now, the local authority has agreed to provide a further opportunity for parents whose choices were affected by the review proposals to contact the schools admissions team to revert back to their original preferences.

"Provided there are spaces at the school of their choice, we will change their allocation."

l Meanwhile, parents of children who will start secondary school in September received letters this week offering them a place at high school.

A number of schools were reported to have children on waiting lists while some schools had places remaining.

The schools with a waiting list are: The Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat School (with 65 waiting); St Mary's (82); Whitecross (19); Fairfield (21); Weobley (20) and Wigmore (31).

The schools with places remaining are: Aylestone (118 remaining); John Kyrle (four); John Masefield (seven); Kingstone (12); Lady Hawkins (17); Queen Elizabeth (34); Minster (24); and Wyebridge Sports College (45).

Parents still have the chance to apply to other schools and/or appeal to the council's school admissions department.