BBC News Online: Education

Parents campaign to save grammars

They are hoping to prevent a ballot over the future of three grammar schools in Barnet, north London.

Local campaigners have already started collecting signatures on a petition seeking to trigger a ballot.

They need 6,000 signatures of parents of pupils at the 77 primary schools, who are eligible to vote.

Now members of the new group Save Our Schools are fighting back, and are handing out 45,000 leaflets to parents at the primary schools.

Their message is "Don't sign away your chance to choose".

But campaigners against selection argue local children are being denied choice and places at local schools.

They are also opposed to the idea of young pupils undergoing the 11-plus entrance exam to gain places at grammar schools.

Campaigner Jenny Brown said: "Most of them are 10 years old when they are sitting these tests, and that is too young."

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Parents get choice over grammar schools (01 Sep 99 | Education)
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Internet Links

The Education (Grammar School Ballots) Regulations 1998
Campaign for State Education: Say no to selection
BBC News Online Talking Point: Should grammar schools be abolished?

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Links to other Education stories