A WIDE-RANGING consultation over how schools decide on how many pupils they take each year is to be launched by Lancashire County Council.

The move comes in the wake of widespread dissatisfaction among parents about the way in which admissions in Pendle are handled by the education authority.

Pendle MP Gordon Prentice, who met the chairman of the council's education committee, County Councillor Stan Wright, and senior officers to discuss the controversial matter, welcomed the consultation plan, which will involve teachers and parents.

"I had parents from Laneshaw Bridge, Trawden and Kelbrook complaining their children had been allocated places at schools on the other side of the borough," said Mr Prentice.

"The youngsters faced the prospect of long hours of travelling every week, passing other schools on the way and hanging around bus stations waiting for connections.

"I am told that in Pendle 89.9 per cent of parents got their first preference school, although far too many don't even get one of their three preferences. There is clearly no right to choose, as promised by the Government, only the right to express a preference. Even that sometimes isn't enough.

"The local secondary school heads have pressed for a review given all the local upset and I back them.

"Whatever system is devised, it must be transparent and fair to all concerned. Parents and children have the right to know where they stand and so indeed do the schools."

Last year, Park High School, Colne, upset other local high schools by taking on extra pupils. This year, half of the parents who appealed against not getting a place for their child at the school - 16 out of 31 - were successful.

Only one in three parents - 36 out of 100 - successfully appealed for places at Mansfield High School, Brierfield.

At Primet High School, Colne, where there was one appeal, and Walton High School, Nelson, where there were six, all the parents successfully appealed.

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