PARENTS flooded this newspaper office with calls this week to tell of their anguish about their children's future.

Record numbers of children in the district, more than 130, were denied places at their preferred secondary schools for this year's intake.

Margaret Barclay called to say she will teach her son Thomas herself rather than send him to Skerton High School.

Thomas, 10, has his appeal to gain to entry to Morecambe High School on Tuesday.

Margaret of Chatsworth Road explained why she was taking her stance: "For a start it's about four and half miles to Skerton but Heysham and Morecambe schools are only round the corner.

"He's a bright lad and there was talk of the grammar school but he didn't want to go anywhere on his own so we forgot it. Now it turns out he's going to be on his own at Skerton anyway if he doesn't win his appeal. I was absolutely outraged by this because I remember all the problems we had getting him into a primary school. They knew it was a crowded year back then and they had seven years to plan."

Mark and Gill Manning of Scale Hall were furious that their son, Carl, 10, had already lost his appeal to gain entry to Ripley St Thomas.

Mark argued that the family didn't have a fair hearing. He added: "I'm absolutely appalled. It's devastating for my boy. My son attends the primary school and has gone to the church since he was two with his grandparents. Gill and myself don't because of work commitments but the point is he goes of his own free will. I know people who go for a short time, get their child into Ripley St Thomas, and never go again. We didn't do that although we are very active in Christians in Sport and help run the football team. I just wished anyone would have asked about what Carl's opinions are. He goes to Sunday school and is upset he can't be with his friends."

Other parents called because they were concerned that appeals had already been heard. The appeals system is an on-going process - some have been heard and some haven't. Yet more parents called to say that they had nothing against Skerton High School but wanted their children to go to other schools for a number of reasons.

Previously a spokesman for the county council education authority explained their priority was that all the children had a place at a secondary school in the district.

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