Parents angry over school places

Mar 25 2008 By Tony Collins

PARENTS in Birmingham are protesting after being refused places at their local primary school, even though their children already attend the school's nursery.

Around half the 56 children who attend the nursery unit at Chilcote Primary in Hall Green are understood to have been turned down for places in the school's reception classes.

Many of the parents, who have the backing of their local councillor, are now planning to appeal after being offered alternative places at schools up to two miles away.

One of the angry parents, qualified childminder Mandy Baxter, aged 37, also looks after the children of five other families trying to get places at Chilcote.

She said: "I only live a third of a mile from the school but instead they have offered my three-year-old daughter Seren a place at Hall Green Primary which is around one and a half miles away.

''I've been told I am 13th on a waiting list but last year my next door neighbour got into Chilcote.

''It just doesn't seem fair, especially as our children spent almost a year there and got to know the teachers.''

Councillor Paula Smith (Lib Dem, Hall Green) is taking up the issue with Birmingham Education Authority.

She said: "Everyone says their children are settled in the nursery and looking forward to moving across, and now they are not being given that opportunity.

''We have new people moving into the area, but we are supposed to be reducing carbon footprints and encouraging children to walk to school, not making them be driven further.''

Headteacher of Chilcote Primary Jon Gale said the school was over subscribed.

He added: "Unfortunately there is no guarantee that children in the nursery go into reception.''

The problem is compounded because the catchment area for Chilcote is not a perfect circle but is shorter north of the school than it is south.

This means Mandy Baxter is outside the catchment despite being so close, whereas the catchment area south of the school covers almost a mile. Another parent planning to appeal, Jennifer Kreuter, said she lives 260 metres from the school but has been offered Severne Primary in Acocks Green for her daughter, Katie, while Mark Newman was allocated Highters Heath for his son Luke.

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