ANGRY parents who want their children to attend secondary school in Barnoldswick have been allocated places at a high school in Brierfield, around 10 miles away.

More than half the Year Six pupils in their final year at Earby's Springfield School were told they wouldn't get places at West Craven High Technology College - the only secondary school serving the West Craven area - because it was oversubscribed.

Instead they have been allocated places at Mansfield High School, in Brierfield, even though there are several other high schools closer to Earby.

In letters from the Local Education Authority, parents were told that there were 165 admissions places at West Craven High for this summer, but 195 potential pupils had listed the school as their preferred choice.

That meant 30 pupils had been allocated places elsewhere, 22 of them pupils at Earby's Springfield School and the rest from around West Craven.

Deborah Cawood, of Green End Avenue, Earby, is a parent of one of the Earby children.

"There is no special bus service to Mansfield so it will mean children leaving home at seven or seven-thirty in the morning to catch a bus to Nelson, then catch another bus to Brierfield, then walk up to the school," said Mrs Cawood.

"They won't be able to take part in anything after school because they'll need to get home again. Taking into account all the travelling time and homework, it will mean a 10-hour day for 11-year-old children. That's just not on."

This week, parents of the Earby children met at Earby Sports and Social Club to voice their concerns and plan what to do. However, they were angry that education officials invited to attend the meeting failed to turn up.

"We've nothing against Mansfield High School because we don't know enough about it," said Mrs Cawood. "But it's just too far away for our children."

Hope was offered at the meeting by county councillor David Whipp, who has been investigating the problem on behalf of parents. He said that any parent who had listed West Craven High as their first choice but been denied a place there should appeal immediately to the Local Education Authority. The school would support any such appeal, giving it a strong chance of success, said Coun Whipp.

"The key message to parents is that they must put in an appeal based on the transport difficulties in getting to Mansfield - going past six other schools to get there - and on the curriculum offered at West Craven High," said Coun Whipp.

There was more encouragement from Arnold Kuchartschuk, headteacher at West Craven High Technology College. He stressed that the school was not directly involved in individual appeals and could not guarantee a result.

However, he said it was supporting the parents in that it had already sent off a very strong case, including tangible evidence, explaining why and how it could accommodate the extra 30 pupils.

"Two years ago we were two science rooms down on what we needed, but technology college status and backing from the local community meant we were able to completely refurbish one science room and bring it back into use," said Mr Kuchartschuk.

"Now, thanks to another successful bid, work is under way on a new science block that should be finished by June, and I have already advertised for a new full-time teacher.

"So while today we couldn't physically take another tutor group, by the new school year, starting in August, we will have that room and capability."

Mr Kuchartschuk said those developments weren't taken into account when the admissions level was set at 165, but the professional case now put forward by the school to the Local Education Authority should lend strong support to the disappointed parents' appeals.

"I can understand the worry that these parents and children are going through," he said. "For an 11-year-old to be worried for even one night is not acceptable, let alone for weeks on end."