FURIOUS parents whose children have been denied places at their local primary schools have joined forces to campaign against the decisions.
A group of 25 parents called an urgent meeting with MP Nick Herbert on Friday, February 27, to voice their frustrations at the shortage of places in Hassocks and Hurstpierpoint.
A total of 21 children in Hassocks have had their hopes of going to Hassocks Infant School dashed and four have been unable to get into their first choice of St Lawrence School in Hurstpierpoint.
Mr Herbert, MP for Arundel and South Downs, has stepped in to raise the matter with Hassocks county councillor Colin Wilsdon and has written to West Sussex County Council's cabinet member for education and schools Peter Griffiths.
Claire and Nigel Whitehead, whose son Oliver is four in June, have been told he must go to Manor Field School in Burgess Hill in September.
Mrs Whitehead said: "It's outrageous, you live in the village and you expect your children to go to the village school."
Her daughter, seven-year-old Sophie, is a pupil at Hassocks Infants School and expected to start at Windmills Junior School in September.
Mrs Whitehead, of Park Avenue, Keymer, said: "Obviously everybody is very frustrated and very angry.
"It doesn't matter that we have other children to get to school. We are expected to be in two places at once."
Mr Herbert said that the problem was 'very upsetting' for parents who would like their children to attend the local school with their friends, where they feel a sense of belonging, where their older siblings may have been educated and where they already have links to after-school clubs.
Peter Griffiths, West Sussex cabinet member for schools and education, said: "My information to date is that the numbers are not as high as quoted but I am aware of the concerns and have asked officers to look into the issue and will be sending a detailed response to Mr Herbert in the near future."
Read the full story in the Mid Sussex Times
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