School Choice Fiasco

Concern and confusion are on the way for parents choosing which secondary school to send their children to next September, says a Boston head teacher.

Following new Government measures, parents are not allowed to know the results of the 11-plus exam before picking a first-choice school for their sons and daughters.

Primary and secondary schools will know the exam results, but those who have to fill in the preference forms will not.
This means if parents put the Grammar or High schools down as their first choice, but their child does not the pass the 11-plus, they have wasted a choice.

There is also concern that the second-choice school may turn a child away if it is over-subscribed so youngsters will end up going to a school their parents did not want them to attend.

Head teacher of Haven High Technology College, Adrian Reed, said: "The people caught up in the middle of all this are the parents. All these new regulations are doing is causing concern and confusion."

Dick Pike, head of pupil and school services for Lincolnshire County Council, said: "The new system will probably be less helpful here than in other parts of the country."

Mr Pike also admitted the new rules would lead to difficult decisions for parents, and there would be an element of risk involved in choosing the right school.

Boston Grammar School head teacher John Neal said: "We are asking parents not to worry. We will treat everyone equally. Nowhere in the school's admission policy is selection made based on the position we are put at on the form."

He added: "We would prefer to be able to let parents know the results of the 11-plus."