Parents from the town insist the admissions process is fundamentally flawed, giving priority to youngsters who live in rural villages up to 16 miles outside Harrogate.

But North Yorkshire County Council said without this system - introduced in 1972 - pupils living outside Harrogate would never have the chance to get into the town's already-oversubscribed secondary schools...


(For an in-depth, two page analysis of the secondary schools admissions debate, see this week's Harrogate Advertiser, available from Nov 14]


...Headteachers at Harrogate Grammar School, Rossett School and Harrogate High School have all pledged support for the council, saying while the system is not perfect, it is impossible to create a better alternative which will please everyone.

But this week, more than 250 parents signed a petition against the current "unfair and draconian" admission arrangements, which they claim amount to discrimination against more than 800 children a year, 80 per cent of the annual secondary intake.

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Phil Willis has written to the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families to ask whether the council's policy complies with the schools admission code.

He has proposed a consultation every five years and a regular review of admission procedures.

First choice place

When secondary school places for September's Year 7 intake were allocated in March this year, 170 of 263 town children were given their first-choice place at Harrogate Grammar School.

In contrast, every one of the 73 rural children who applied to the school were given a place.

What has angered town parents most is that the second, third, fourth and fifth preference of rural families are considered before the first of those from the town.

This year, nine rural children who did not name Grammar as their first choice were given a place, ahead of 93 Harrogate children who specifically chose the school first but were denied one.

In July a group of 58 parents wrote to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator who, after spending almost three months examining the admissions policy, agreed the admissions arrangements were unfair.

Too soon

In September, the adjudicator told the county council to change its policy by 2010, but the council, which argues this is far too soon, is preparing to challenge the directive with a judicial review.

County Coun John Watson, executive member for children's services and schools, would only confirm that the review - funded by tax payers - would cost "several thousands". The Harrogate Advertiser has made a Freedom of Information request to discover the exact figure.

Coun Watson said: "I think town parents see it as a Tory council defending Tory children in the rural areas and that it is a last-ditch attempt to maintain the status quo, which is not the case."

Senior reporter ASHLEY MARSHALL investigates the admissions row in this week's Harrogate Advertiser, including:
- Why rural children are given priority.
- Four possible solutions (but no real answer).
- The call for change from Harrogate parents.
- Your comments.

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