news story

3rd January 2008

MP Backs Charfield Parents Over School Admission Row

Northavon MP Steve Webb has given his backing to Charfield parents who are concerned that their children may not be able to get places at their local primary school in September.

Under current Council admission rules, Charfield is only allowed to admit 30 children into its reception class for 2008. But 40 children have put down Charfield as their first preference and all but one lives within half a mile of the school. The Council has yet to decide whether or not to show any flexibility over admission numbers for 2008 and is insisting that any change would be for one year only.

MP Steve Webb has been contacted by concerned parents and has already taken up their concerns with the Council. He is calling for the Council to ensure that village children are able to attend their local primary school instead of having to be driven to neighbouring schools.

Steve Webb said:

"One of the great strengths of our local area is our village primary schools. Local schools are at the heart of the local community and it would be totally unacceptable if parents who lived just half a mile away from the school were told they were 'too far away' to gain a place at Charfield.

"The idea of large numbers of reception children having to be ferried to neighbouring schools - in some cases being taken past the front door of their local school - would be totally unacceptable.

"Not only is it vital that the Council shows flexibility in 2008, it is also essential that it investigates in detail what went wrong with its planning this year so that parents are not disappointed in future years".


Note: It is believed that the boost in applications to Charfield in 2008 reflect a range of factors, including a good OFSTED report and good links between the primary school and the pre-school which meets on the premises.