AT LEAST two families will not be sending their children to school when the new academic year starts next week. They will not allow them to attend Skerton High School.

The parents are upset that their children were placed at the school despite the fact that they didn't name Skerton as an option.

They also argue that the school staff concentrate on employment training qualifications like GNVQs and not academic qualifications.

One of the parents, George Fox, was prepared to go on the record with the reasons why he will keep his daughter, Jennifer, off school.

"I want the very best for my daughter, that's all," he said. "It is not a happy situation but Jennifer has been very stoical about it. I know the sons of two parents in this situation are taking it very badly. We waited a long time for the ombudsman's investigation report into this and it was quite critical of the appeals procedure.

"Next year they won't be allowed to have councillors who support the education authority policy on those panels. But really it's the end of the line for us.

"If I can't get her in anywhere I'm going to keep Jennifer off and teach her myself which is allowed as long as you follow the national curriculum. I still have some hope of her getting in somewhere. "I'm going to wait for the Local Education Authority to come to me about her not going to school. I don't want anything to do with the LEA after the way they handled this. They had seven years to plan after there was trouble when they first started school and they didn't. Why wasn't Skerton up to standard for academic children after all that time anyway? I know they do a very good job on GNVQs but what about other children? Basically I'm still waiting for someone to contact me from the LEA after two months anyway so they can come to me."

Another dad, who didn't wish to be named, added: "It's been terrible on my son. His mates don't even mention going to the new school now because they know it upsets him. Every day he waits for the mail for some news. If there's no school we'll have to educate him at home or send him out of county. I've a file full of stuff on the way the LEA handled this."

Headmaster of Skerton, Peter Doyle, stoutly defended his school's record, commenting: "I would tell them to come to the school and see what we've done here. I know at least one parent who was elated when she came.

"Look at record. Our Ofsted report said 83 per cent of our lessons were excellent. In the GNVQs we had an 82 per cent pass rate and 20 pupils passed with distinctions. These days some 25 per cent of university entrants go with GNVQS. We've just started looking at our GCE results today but rest assured we'll be giving them to you next week.

"There is no need for parents to fear that because they've expressed their worries they won't be treated the same. There's no way that would happen. I am very concerned about what this publicity is doing to the dignity of the parents of children who choose to come here because we are a good school."

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