The county council was told to change the admissions policy – which gives priority to rural children's first choice of school – but they say there's no better alternative which will please everyone, and now they are seeking a legal challenge.
Harrogate parents are furious at the present policy. Andrew Pettet's 12-year-old son Christopher was turned away from Harrogate Grammar School, despite living just 1.6 miles away.
He said: "Every child in his class at Western Primary School got to go, but not my son. How can that be right? It's about time for a change."
Another parent said: "Certain groups of children are perceived to have a choice of whichever school they want, whilst the same opportunity to choose does not exist for another set of children.
"There is a real groundswell of opinion that there is a massive inconsistency in the system."
Rural children are given priority to attend Harrogate Grammar, Rossett, and Harrogate High over those in the town.
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 oversubscribed secondary schools.
In July, a group of parents had forced a rethink on the system, as the Office of Schools Adjudicator agreed the policy was unfair.
North Yorkshire County Council was told to change the policy by 2010, but yesterday confirmed that it would contest this and started a judicial review.
Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Phil Willis, said he was disappointed by this use of taxpayers' money, and called instead for a public consultation to find a solution.
"This is an issue which will not go away. It requires the sort of debate which the Harrogate Advertiser is giving, where people are able to voice their concerns – not only parents but concerned citizens.
"I'm delighted that the Advertiser has taken such a prominent role in turning this debate on its head and it is now down to the county council for a responsible debate to
happen.
"It is clear from the adjudicator's letter that while the current system has been deemed unacceptable, no alternative suggestion has been made.
"I think it is important that the county council, following consultation, puts a number of suggestions forward.
"Unless and until that happens we will end up with angry parents and that is not acceptable."
Nobody at the county council was available for comment at the time of going to press.

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