School policy switch angers parents

There are 70,000 surplus school places in Wales

Parents angered over a council policy switch to send children to the nearest secondary school are to voice their concerns at a public meeting on Friday.

The change, which will come into force at the start of the next school year, means primary children in Flintshire could be sent to different high schools from their classmates.

The feeder system worked perfectly well for many years, the children developed strong links with the school but that link has been broken

Neil Avery, action group spokesman

The Five Schools Committee parent group, will debate the local authorities move away from the feeder school policy.

The meeting at Holywell Leisure Centre, at 1800 GMT, has been called by Welsh Assembly Member Alison Halford.

The pressure group wants the council to revoke their decision for 2004.

Consultation

Five Schools Committee spokesman Neil Avery said the parents want their arguments taken on board by the council.

A public consultation period is taking place to discuss education policy for 2004 and a special county council meeting on the issue will take place on December 17.

Mr Avery said: "We hope the consultation process will go beyond the statutory bodies, such as governors and headteachers, to hear the opinions of the parents and the youngsters affected."

At a recent demonstration by the Five Schools Committee, a petition of more than 2,000 names, collected from five communities, was handed into County Hall at Mold.

We are seeking to sustain these communities

Councillor Chris Bithell

They also presented a document stating the decision is "misguided" and "not in the best interests of the children".

Mr Avery said the committee is angered over the fact that parents in Northop, Nannerch, Sychdyn, Rhesycae and Rhosesmor are losing the right to send their children to Mold Alun High School.

"The feeder system worked perfectly well for many years, the children developed strong links with the school but that link has been broken now they will go to the nearest high school," said Mr Avery.

Social development

He said youngsters, who attend village schools from a wide area, could be split up and this could have an impact on their social development when they have to attend their nearest secondary school.

But councillor Chris Bithell, executive member for education said the authority, along with other councils, faced problems with surplus places, over-subscribed and below-capacity schools.

The old feeder system had to be addressed as the authority is under an obligation to the Audit Commission and the assembly, he said.

A review has been carried out and Flintshire council was able to see the projected figures for pupils in schools, he added.

Mr Bithell said: "Rather than threatening communities, which is what we are being accused of, we are seeking to sustain these communities."