A FATHER whose son was banned from school trips after suffering a diabetic blackout on a ski trip to France is urging parents to attend a meeting of governors to ask questions about the way the school is run.

Clitheroe Royal Grammar School is facing prosecution under new disabled rights legislation over the case of Tom White and is expected to respond to the Disability Rights Commission, an independent government body, this week.

A school watersports holiday which 15-year-old Tom was due to go on has since been cancelled as the school were unable to secure enough staff to lead the trip. Tonight parents, governors and teachers are due to attend the annual meeting of parents and governors at the school.

Tom's father, Malcolm White, of Slaidburn Road, Waddington, said: "I am not asking people to come along tonight to support me, all I am trying to achieve is to get parents there and to get them asking questions.

"The reason I am taking the school to court is because they were unlawful. There are all these rules in place, so why isn't the school following them?

"What I want is for about 100 parents or more to go," he said. "That's the only thing that is going to make a difference. Questions should be asked of the governors, not just about my son's case, but there are so many issues that need to be discussed. For example, what are the governors doing about all the bad publicity surrounding the school? Thursday is the only chance we've got for people to find out what is going on. "I feel that our children's education and upbringing is too important to be decided by other people. I think parents need to be a lot more active."

Following the resignation of three parent governors, vacancies on the school governing body will be filled early in December, following a postal ballot.

Anthony Cooper, clerk to the governors, said: "Parents are invited to raise matters if they wish, which are submitted in advance. Every parent has been given the opportunity to submit questions if they wish."

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans said: "I will be looking with great interest at what comes out of the meeting on Thursday and will be taking it up with the head at a later date."

He added: "It is important that nobody should be discriminated against, irrespective of their disability, and that the policies in place should be clearly defined and followed through."