Parents angry at 'fob-off' (From Free Press Series)

Parents angry at 'fob-off'

EDUCATION chiefs in Monmouthshire admit they made a mistake by not consulting parents over proposed school catchment changes in Chepstow.

Parents campaigning against the move say the council's admission feels like a "fob-off".

Families now living in the catchment area for the Dell Primary, some of whom already have children at the school, were angry that a reorganisation will leave them outside the catchment area from September.

Proposed changes affect families in 11 roads. Monmouthshire's Local Education Authority (LEA), originally warned parents to look at 'the bigger picture' and accept changes were needed to balance pupil numbers to school places.

But Paula Ham, head of resources and performance management for Monmouthshire schools, accepted the LEA was mistaken in not consulting parents.

Mrs Ham wrote to a campaigner saying: "The legislation governing admissions to schools requires the LEA to consult on any change.

"The question posed to the Assembly was whether this includes catchment areas. We have recently been informed that it does."

LEA officials wrote to parents this week outlining the changes and allowing until April 30 for objections.

Council bosses also said any child with a sibling at the Dell on September 1, would be guaranteed a place at the school.

Parent Jennifer Chudleigh of Mounton Drive said: "There is no guarantee that those without siblings will get in to the Dell - and that's after families moved here to be in the Dell's catchment.

"Our campaign was never just about us but about an authority that acted without telling anyone."