More consultation on admissions

Opinion is divided over the proposed admissions plan

Councillors in North Yorkshire have voted to consult further on controversial plans to change school admissions.

Currently children living in rural areas are given their preferred choice of three Harrogate secondary schools ahead of those living in the town.

This has led to complaints from parents in Harrogate that their children were being put at a disadvantage.

The new plan would reallocate the number of places on a more equal basis.

At a meeting on Tuesday the county council's executive board voted to take the plans forward and extend a public consultation to 22 January.

A final decision is expected to be made in February.

The authority had asked 5,500 parents in the area for their views on the proposal, and said it received 500 responses.

Jim Clark, the council's executive member for schools, said it wanted to "accommodate as many parents' preferences as possible".

I think a practical compromise is the way forward to give rural and town children an equal chance Harrogate parent Judy Dawson

He added: "We do understand that the proposal may disappoint some parents and we are sorry about that. We have concluded though that this would be a fairer approach than the current system."

Details of how to comment on the plans are available on the council's website.

The proposal deals with the pupil admissions system for Harrogate High School, Harrogate Grammar School and Rossett School.

They were drafted after the Schools Adjudicator found that the county council's existing policy was unfair.

'Emotive issue'

Some parents living in rural areas are opposed to the new plans.

They believe it could lead to families moving into Harrogate to secure their child's first choice of school - a move, they say, which could "devastate" rural communities.

Helen Howson, of the Save Rural Schools campaign, said: "We recognise that all parents want what is best for their child and schools admissions is an emotive issue.

"However, our campaign goes beyond concern for individual children.

"This is ensuring that there are families living in our villages in the future."

But Judy Dawson, who lives in Harrogate and supports the new plan, said: "I think a practical compromise is the way forward to give rural and town children an equal chance.

"All we have ever wanted is equality."