MORE than 130 children in Morecambe and Heysham have been left distraught after being told that they cannot attend the secondary school of their choice.

Anxious parents have formed an action committee to try and reverse the controversial decisions and have enlisted the support of local headteachers and Morecambe's MP, Geraldine Smith.

Most of the 130 had Morecambe High School as their first choice but many have not even been given their second choice option.

The local education authority has told most families that their children will be attending Skerton High School in September.

Pam McGuiness said she was devastated when she discovered that her son had not been given any of his three choices.

"We're talking about the next five years of my child's life, his education and well being," said Mrs McGuiness.

"We're told that we've got a choice but in reality there's none. Our three choices were ignored. My child wanted to know what he had done wrong? He was upset."

Jane Cassidy said the decision had completely knocked her for six. She said: "My son is not going to school in September unless he is put in a school of his choice. It's OK saying they can catch a bus but they're not streetwise at that age."

Single parent Anne Brown, who lives in Heysham, said she was very concerned about her daughter travelling to Skerton and back every day, a view echoed by MP Geraldine Smith.

"It's unreasonable to expect children in Heysham to travel to school in Skerton," said the MP.

" The traffic is already terrible and more parents taking their children to school would make it worse. The situation is unacceptable and I'll be doing whatever I can to help."

Headteacher at Westgate Primary School, John Goodwin, said that 20 of his pupils had not been placed in the secondary school of their choice.

"The children are upset and we've had a lot of tearful parents in but it seems most Morecambe primary schools have been affected," he said.

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