THE schools admissions system has come under fire from a Handforth councillor after Wilmslow childrenwere turned away from the town’s oversubscribed high school.
Popular Wilmslow High is full to capacity after a surge in children scrambling for places at the school this September.
And borough councillor Barry Burkhill insists that the problem will only get worse next year and has called for a review of the system.
Coun Burkhill said: "During my many years as an independent local borough councillor I have had little to do with the county's admissions system to our local Wilmslow High School.
"However, since I had three cases of complaints brought to me last year when local Handforth families had been refused places at Wilmslow High School, I have become much more concerned that this system needs examination. All the three cases which I supported and assisted were eventually given places at the school.
"This year has seen a worsening of the situation rather than last year's problems being seen as a warning to ensure that there are enough places for all our local children."
Five pupils from Wilmslow Grange County Primary School, in Handforth, were told they had not made the roll at the high school.
Shocked parents found out by letter and were told that their youngsters had instead been allocated schools more than 20 miles away in either Northwich or Winsford, a journey which could take up to two hours each way.
Now mums and dads are lining up admissions challenges for their children’s preferred secondary school and have expressed anger and disappointment at the alternatives put forward for their sons or daughters by the county council.
The appeals will be heard by a committee headed by education chiefs.
Gill Bremner, headteacher at Wilmslow High School told the express last week that although the capacity at the school was increased from 265 to 300 a few years ago, this year 637 parents put the school as their first choice.
Coun Burkhill added: "We are told that Wilmslow High School has 300 places per year for year seven intake. There are ten local county primary schools and four local Independent primary schools in Wilmslow, Handforth and Alderley. Assuming that a large majority of the county schools' pupils would transfer to Wilmslow High along with some of the independent sector pupils, there are enough places for our local needs. Some would also go to Manchester Grammar and Stockport Grammar Schools.
"So where do the 637 applicants for this year come from? The extra 337 do not come from our local schools unless there are 46 pupils in each class wanting a place at Wilmslow High.
"Wilmslow High School was built to cater for local needs and local children must be given priority. If there are places left for children out of area then these must only be offered once local needs have been fulfilled."
Criteria used to prioritise applications from parents if the standard admission number is exceeded include: whether the child lives in the catchment area, if the child has siblings at the school, students with exceptional medical, psychological, personal or domestic circumstances, and students living nearest the school.
A spokesman for Cheshire County Council said: "The deadline for appeals was March 21 and any places which become available will be offered to children on the school's waiting list which is held in criteria order. All appellants are automatically added to the school's waiting list."
But it could take until July before a decision is made."
