Anger as hundreds of pupils miss out on first choice school (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

I wonder if the governments, both past & present, immigration policy (or lack of one) has contributed to this situation ?

Mik_e wrote:
I wonder if the governments, both past & present, immigration policy (or lack of one) has contributed to this situation ?

I should have thought that was obvious.

It's to do with the fact that the council saw 1200 new houses built around Eldwick Primary and then decided not to expand the school. The council proposed to expand Elwick as far back as 2004 but it was actually blocked by the CofE on behalf of Trinity All Saints in order to fill up that school. They're getting their wish to get pupils in but to the detriment of parents who have to travel miles to get there!

EldwickParent wrote:
It's to do with the fact that the council saw 1200 new houses built around Eldwick Primary and then decided not to expand the school. The council proposed to expand Elwick as far back as 2004 but it was actually blocked by the CofE on behalf of Trinity All Saints in order to fill up that school. They're getting their wish to get pupils in but to the detriment of parents who have to travel miles to get there!

White flight!

Albion. wrote:

EldwickParent wrote:
It's to do with the fact that the council saw 1200 new houses built around Eldwick Primary and then decided not to expand the school. The council proposed to expand Elwick as far back as 2004 but it was actually blocked by the CofE on behalf of Trinity All Saints in order to fill up that school. They're getting their wish to get pupils in but to the detriment of parents who have to travel miles to get there!

White flight!

No, just lack of planning from the previous council. Sorry to disappoint you.

They know there's capacity issues but they continue to approve the building of houses, rake in the council tax without looking at any element of public services.

So what do these parents do? I've been to an appeal myself, an absolute waste of time to all intents and purposes.

You sit there with your reasons, medical letters (in our case) and the council turn up with their teflon style 'we did it on mileage' 'no case' 'we follow criteria'. So you lose the appeal unless they make a mistake.

Whatever happened to portakabins and extra teachers? Not ideal but if there's a capacity issue and they're too short sighted to build.

In Thackley, some of the kids have been sent to Menston primary, a mere 7 miles away.

Yet again, more mismanagement by officials, and Joe Public has to bear the brunt.

Johsay wrote:
They know there's capacity issues but they continue to approve the building of houses, rake in the council tax without looking at any element of public services.

So what do these parents do? I've been to an appeal myself, an absolute waste of time to all intents and purposes.

You sit there with your reasons, medical letters (in our case) and the council turn up with their teflon style 'we did it on mileage' 'no case' 'we follow criteria'. So you lose the appeal unless they make a mistake.

Whatever happened to portakabins and extra teachers? Not ideal but if there's a capacity issue and they're too short sighted to build.

In Thackley, some of the kids have been sent to Menston primary, a mere 7 miles away.

Yet again, more mismanagement by officials, and Joe Public has to bear the brunt.

Like I said, the Eldwick situation was down to objections from Trinity All Saints who objected to the expansion of Eldwick in order to boost their numbers, I believe Trinity All Saints was even in special measures at the time and so undersubscribed. You can look up articles in the T&A from that time and you'll find the issues discussed there. The CofE had a veto on the expansion of Eldwick at the time and so opposed Eldwick's expansion on behalf of Trinity All saints. I feel really sorry for the guy in the article, the previous council has put him in this position, it's disgraceful.

EldwickParent wrote:

Albion. wrote:

EldwickParent wrote:
It's to do with the fact that the council saw 1200 new houses built around Eldwick Primary and then decided not to expand the school. The council proposed to expand Elwick as far back as 2004 but it was actually blocked by the CofE on behalf of Trinity All Saints in order to fill up that school. They're getting their wish to get pupils in but to the detriment of parents who have to travel miles to get there!

White flight!

No, just lack of planning from the previous council. Sorry to disappoint you.

The reason why the suburbs are expanding is because people don't want to remain in or nearer the inner city, that and the rapid and expanding birthrate in the more inner regions have indeed caught the planners out, but if it wasn't for one thing the other wouldn't be needed.

Albion. wrote:

EldwickParent wrote:

Albion. wrote:

EldwickParent wrote:
It's to do with the fact that the council saw 1200 new houses built around Eldwick Primary and then decided not to expand the school. The council proposed to expand Elwick as far back as 2004 but it was actually blocked by the CofE on behalf of Trinity All Saints in order to fill up that school. They're getting their wish to get pupils in but to the detriment of parents who have to travel miles to get there!

White flight!

No, just lack of planning from the previous council. Sorry to disappoint you.

The reason why the suburbs are expanding is because people don't want to remain in or nearer the inner city, that and the rapid and expanding birthrate in the more inner regions have indeed caught the planners out, but if it wasn't for one thing the other wouldn't be needed.

No, just lack of planning to an obvious situation. See T&A article below from 1998:

Thursday, 17 December 1998

"New homes mean a crisis for school'

Residents fear that giving the green light to 400 new homes near Gilstead will result in their village school being unable to cope with the demand for places.

And they are calling on Bradford Council to act now to make sure education provision in the area is sufficient to meet future needs.

Last month a Government inspector gave permission for 400 homes to be built on fields between Gilstead and Eldwick.

The plans were bitterly opposed by local residents and had initially been rejected by the Council. But the inspector allowed outline permission for the homes at Warren Lane on appeal with a phased start of 150 properties until the completion of the Bingley Relief Road.

Barry Foster, secretary of Gilstead Village Society, said he feared the development would put an unbearable strain on the 420-pupil Eldwick Primary School - due to open on the site of the present Gilstead Middle School in September 2000 following Bradford's education shake up.

Mr Foster said: "All these new developments have lots of children and I can't see Warren Lane being any different. That will obviously put a lot of pressure on the school but nobody's talking about making it any bigger.

"As it stands, the school isn't going to be big enough and I think the Council should be doing something now to plan for these extra children and take them into account.

"Effectively we'll be turned from a village into a town - there could be up to 400 new homes there in the long run and it doesn't take much working out to say that will bring in a lot more children. That will put a big strain on local facilities including school provision.''

Sue Greenwood, head teacher at Eldwick First School, which will become Eldwick Primary, said she did not anticipate there being much spare capacity at the new school, adding: "This is something we're going to have to discuss with the LEA. But we're in the middle of reorganisation and have a lot of things to discuss and at the moment this isn't one of our main worries.''

Bradford's education chairman Councillor Jim Flood (Lab, Bingley) said: "We can't plan new education provision until there are 'curtains in the windows' because the development might not happen and you'd be left with empty classrooms. We can't plan on the basis of speculation."

Shipley MP Chris Leslie, who led the fight against the proposed development, said: "We need to make sure the primary school has enough capacity to cope with future needs."

EldwickParent wrote:

Albion. wrote:

EldwickParent wrote:

Albion. wrote:

EldwickParent wrote:
It's to do with the fact that the council saw 1200 new houses built around Eldwick Primary and then decided not to expand the school. The council proposed to expand Elwick as far back as 2004 but it was actually blocked by the CofE on behalf of Trinity All Saints in order to fill up that school. They're getting their wish to get pupils in but to the detriment of parents who have to travel miles to get there!

White flight!

No, just lack of planning from the previous council. Sorry to disappoint you.

The reason why the suburbs are expanding is because people don't want to remain in or nearer the inner city, that and the rapid and expanding birthrate in the more inner regions have indeed caught the planners out, but if it wasn't for one thing the other wouldn't be needed.

No, just lack of planning to an obvious situation. See T&A article below from 1998:

Thursday, 17 December 1998

"New homes mean a crisis for school'

Residents fear that giving the green light to 400 new homes near Gilstead will result in their village school being unable to cope with the demand for places.

And they are calling on Bradford Council to act now to make sure education provision in the area is sufficient to meet future needs.

Last month a Government inspector gave permission for 400 homes to be built on fields between Gilstead and Eldwick.

The plans were bitterly opposed by local residents and had initially been rejected by the Council. But the inspector allowed outline permission for the homes at Warren Lane on appeal with a phased start of 150 properties until the completion of the Bingley Relief Road.

Barry Foster, secretary of Gilstead Village Society, said he feared the development would put an unbearable strain on the 420-pupil Eldwick Primary School - due to open on the site of the present Gilstead Middle School in September 2000 following Bradford's education shake up.

Mr Foster said: "All these new developments have lots of children and I can't see Warren Lane being any different. That will obviously put a lot of pressure on the school but nobody's talking about making it any bigger.

"As it stands, the school isn't going to be big enough and I think the Council should be doing something now to plan for these extra children and take them into account.

"Effectively we'll be turned from a village into a town - there could be up to 400 new homes there in the long run and it doesn't take much working out to say that will bring in a lot more children. That will put a big strain on local facilities including school provision.''

Sue Greenwood, head teacher at Eldwick First School, which will become Eldwick Primary, said she did not anticipate there being much spare capacity at the new school, adding: "This is something we're going to have to discuss with the LEA. But we're in the middle of reorganisation and have a lot of things to discuss and at the moment this isn't one of our main worries.''

Bradford's education chairman Councillor Jim Flood (Lab, Bingley) said: "We can't plan new education provision until there are 'curtains in the windows' because the development might not happen and you'd be left with empty classrooms. We can't plan on the basis of speculation."

Shipley MP Chris Leslie, who led the fight against the proposed development, said: "We need to make sure the primary school has enough capacity to cope with future needs."

Sorry we will never agree, but the basic problem is people are clamouring to move there (why).

EldwickParent wrote:
It's to do with the fact that the council saw 1200 new houses built around Eldwick Primary and then decided not to expand the school. The council proposed to expand Elwick as far back as 2004 but it was actually blocked by the CofE on behalf of Trinity All Saints in order to fill up that school. They're getting their wish to get pupils in but to the detriment of parents who have to travel miles to get there!

it's also to do with peolple saying they live an addrees in the school area when they live in Keighley, Cottingley, Great Horton, , Riddlesden , Shipley !

EldwickParent wrote:

Albion. wrote:

EldwickParent wrote:
It's to do with the fact that the council saw 1200 new houses built around Eldwick Primary and then decided not to expand the school. The council proposed to expand Elwick as far back as 2004 but it was actually blocked by the CofE on behalf of Trinity All Saints in order to fill up that school. They're getting their wish to get pupils in but to the detriment of parents who have to travel miles to get there!

White flight!

No, just lack of planning from the previous council. Sorry to disappoint you.

sorry no, Albion you are correct

I think it's disgraceful that kids can't attend their local primary.
You should have a right to a place at the school nearest your house. End of debate. Bradford Council is an utter shambles and not fit-for-purpose.

EthelBurger wrote:
I think it's disgraceful that kids can't attend their local primary.
You should have a right to a place at the school nearest your house. End of debate. Bradford Council is an utter shambles and not fit-for-purpose.

This happens all over the country, but I agree with you.

Albion. wrote:

EldwickParent wrote:

Albion. wrote:

EldwickParent wrote:

Albion. wrote:

EldwickParent wrote:
It's to do with the fact that the council saw 1200 new houses built around Eldwick Primary and then decided not to expand the school. The council proposed to expand Elwick as far back as 2004 but it was actually blocked by the CofE on behalf of Trinity All Saints in order to fill up that school. They're getting their wish to get pupils in but to the detriment of parents who have to travel miles to get there!

White flight!

No, just lack of planning from the previous council. Sorry to disappoint you.

The reason why the suburbs are expanding is because people don't want to remain in or nearer the inner city, that and the rapid and expanding birthrate in the more inner regions have indeed caught the planners out, but if it wasn't for one thing the other wouldn't be needed.

No, just lack of planning to an obvious situation. See T&A article below from 1998:

Thursday, 17 December 1998

"New homes mean a crisis for school'

Residents fear that giving the green light to 400 new homes near Gilstead will result in their village school being unable to cope with the demand for places.

And they are calling on Bradford Council to act now to make sure education provision in the area is sufficient to meet future needs.

Last month a Government inspector gave permission for 400 homes to be built on fields between Gilstead and Eldwick.

The plans were bitterly opposed by local residents and had initially been rejected by the Council. But the inspector allowed outline permission for the homes at Warren Lane on appeal with a phased start of 150 properties until the completion of the Bingley Relief Road.

Barry Foster, secretary of Gilstead Village Society, said he feared the development would put an unbearable strain on the 420-pupil Eldwick Primary School - due to open on the site of the present Gilstead Middle School in September 2000 following Bradford's education shake up.

Mr Foster said: "All these new developments have lots of children and I can't see Warren Lane being any different. That will obviously put a lot of pressure on the school but nobody's talking about making it any bigger.

"As it stands, the school isn't going to be big enough and I think the Council should be doing something now to plan for these extra children and take them into account.

"Effectively we'll be turned from a village into a town - there could be up to 400 new homes there in the long run and it doesn't take much working out to say that will bring in a lot more children. That will put a big strain on local facilities including school provision.''

Sue Greenwood, head teacher at Eldwick First School, which will become Eldwick Primary, said she did not anticipate there being much spare capacity at the new school, adding: "This is something we're going to have to discuss with the LEA. But we're in the middle of reorganisation and have a lot of things to discuss and at the moment this isn't one of our main worries.''

Bradford's education chairman Councillor Jim Flood (Lab, Bingley) said: "We can't plan new education provision until there are 'curtains in the windows' because the development might not happen and you'd be left with empty classrooms. We can't plan on the basis of speculation."

Shipley MP Chris Leslie, who led the fight against the proposed development, said: "We need to make sure the primary school has enough capacity to cope with future needs."

Sorry we will never agree, but the basic problem is people are clamouring to move there (why).

Ironically people are moving there because of the reputation of the school, as you're probably aware not all Bradford schools are rated that highly. You'll also note that Trinity All Saints, still in Bingley, wasn't on the guy in the articles list of 5 preferred schools.

This just goes to show that Bradford Admissions authority have learnt absolutely nothing from the shambles that occurred last year.
Being the parent of one of the 200 who didn't receive any of their 3 preferred schools last year I expected better this year.
The upset and distress that this has caused is not possible to put into words!
Perhaps a bit of process re-engineering and a new schools selection criteria is in order?

What a load of tripe, I do beleave that more and more coming in to Bradford does not help but lets get stuff sorted more and more people are having children many to stay on state benefits and explain that school places will all ready be sorted for them and the other reason is that many schools are above average for learing but so many r behind. Is it not time that we sorted the schools out then people would be happy to send them there. Get rid of the staff and Heads taht don't pull there weight.

ertnec wrote:
What a load of tripe, I do beleave that more and more coming in to Bradford does not help but lets get stuff sorted more and more people are having children many to stay on state benefits and explain that school places will all ready be sorted for them and the other reason is that many schools are above average for learing but so many r behind. Is it not time that we sorted the schools out then people would be happy to send them there. Get rid of the staff and Heads taht don't pull there weight.

Or teach spelling! ;-)

EldwickParent wrote:

Albion. wrote:

EldwickParent wrote:

Albion. wrote:

EldwickParent wrote:

Albion. wrote:

EldwickParent wrote:
It's to do with the fact that the council saw 1200 new houses built around Eldwick Primary and then decided not to expand the school. The council proposed to expand Elwick as far back as 2004 but it was actually blocked by the CofE on behalf of Trinity All Saints in order to fill up that school. They're getting their wish to get pupils in but to the detriment of parents who have to travel miles to get there!

White flight!

No, just lack of planning from the previous council. Sorry to disappoint you.

The reason why the suburbs are expanding is because people don't want to remain in or nearer the inner city, that and the rapid and expanding birthrate in the more inner regions have indeed caught the planners out, but if it wasn't for one thing the other wouldn't be needed.

No, just lack of planning to an obvious situation. See T&A article below from 1998:

Thursday, 17 December 1998

"New homes mean a crisis for school'

Residents fear that giving the green light to 400 new homes near Gilstead will result in their village school being unable to cope with the demand for places.

And they are calling on Bradford Council to act now to make sure education provision in the area is sufficient to meet future needs.

Last month a Government inspector gave permission for 400 homes to be built on fields between Gilstead and Eldwick.

The plans were bitterly opposed by local residents and had initially been rejected by the Council. But the inspector allowed outline permission for the homes at Warren Lane on appeal with a phased start of 150 properties until the completion of the Bingley Relief Road.

Barry Foster, secretary of Gilstead Village Society, said he feared the development would put an unbearable strain on the 420-pupil Eldwick Primary School - due to open on the site of the present Gilstead Middle School in September 2000 following Bradford's education shake up.

Mr Foster said: "All these new developments have lots of children and I can't see Warren Lane being any different. That will obviously put a lot of pressure on the school but nobody's talking about making it any bigger.

"As it stands, the school isn't going to be big enough and I think the Council should be doing something now to plan for these extra children and take them into account.

"Effectively we'll be turned from a village into a town - there could be up to 400 new homes there in the long run and it doesn't take much working out to say that will bring in a lot more children. That will put a big strain on local facilities including school provision.''

Sue Greenwood, head teacher at Eldwick First School, which will become Eldwick Primary, said she did not anticipate there being much spare capacity at the new school, adding: "This is something we're going to have to discuss with the LEA. But we're in the middle of reorganisation and have a lot of things to discuss and at the moment this isn't one of our main worries.''

Bradford's education chairman Councillor Jim Flood (Lab, Bingley) said: "We can't plan new education provision until there are 'curtains in the windows' because the development might not happen and you'd be left with empty classrooms. We can't plan on the basis of speculation."

Shipley MP Chris Leslie, who led the fight against the proposed development, said: "We need to make sure the primary school has enough capacity to cope with future needs."

Sorry we will never agree, but the basic problem is people are clamouring to move there (why).

Ironically people are moving there because of the reputation of the school, as you're probably aware not all Bradford schools are rated that highly. You'll also note that Trinity All Saints, still in Bingley, wasn't on the guy in the articles list of 5 preferred schools.

I know both schools well, having been born in Eldwick in the 1940s. You are probably right about SOME people moving there so their kids can mix with better kids (irrespective of the reputation of the school), but we see on here almost every day evidence of people moving away from the city to simply find what they hope will be a more agreeable life.

dejavous wrote:
This just goes to show that Bradford Admissions authority have learnt absolutely nothing from the shambles that occurred last year.
Being the parent of one of the 200 who didn't receive any of their 3 preferred schools last year I expected better this year.
The upset and distress that this has caused is not possible to put into words!
Perhaps a bit of process re-engineering and a new schools selection criteria is in order?

You are totally right that they don't understand the upset and distress this causes to parents and children.

As for new selection criteria, definitely. Bingley has an excellent school in St Josephs unfortunately locals can't get places there as it is a Catholic school so you get the ridiculous situation of kids being driven into a Bingley primary every day from all over North Bradford while Bingley parents have a shortage of places.

Last year 267 people didn't get one of their 3 choices. This year we had 5 choices so that number should have gone down significantly. The Council new there was going to be a big problem, that is why the added 2 more choices. It still went up 13%.

In two years there will be an extra 60 children to allocate in Bingley due to a rise in the birth rate. It will be interesting to see how the council prepare for this.

Gilstead77 wrote:
Last year 267 people didn't get one of their 3 choices. This year we had 5 choices so that number should have gone down significantly. The Council new there was going to be a big problem, that is why the added 2 more choices. It still went up 13%.

In two years there will be an extra 60 children to allocate in Bingley due to a rise in the birth rate. It will be interesting to see how the council prepare for this.

Since the 1998 article I published the council have managed to close and sell off the old Eldwick Primary school. That gives you a clue as to the planning competence!

Don't know what Albion is referring to by saying "better kids", but the villages surrounding Bingley already have children bussed in from inner city Bradford everyday, so how do local children have a chance of getting a place? Also, how do the children who are bussed in fulfil the criteria??

AMDRAM wrote:
Don't know what Albion is referring to by saying "better kids", but the villages surrounding Bingley already have children bussed in from inner city Bradford everyday, so how do local children have a chance of getting a place? Also, how do the children who are bussed in fulfil the criteria??

I mean kids from wealthier parentage (the old boy network starts very young).

Gilstead77 wrote:
Last year 267 people didn't get one of their 3 choices. This year we had 5 choices so that number should have gone down significantly. The Council new there was going to be a big problem, that is why the added 2 more choices. It still went up 13%.

In two years there will be an extra 60 children to allocate in Bingley due to a rise in the birth rate. It will be interesting to see how the council prepare for this.

I've just done a bit of digging around and the council are preparing for this by spending £1.7m on doubling the size of Trinity All Saints, so expect this story to repeat itself every year from now on!

Question for the council, wouldn't it be a good idea to provide Primary provision near to where people live rather than miles away? The houses have been built at Eldwick, Trinity All Saints is miles away. There's a massive hill to negotiate, a canal and the new relief road too. I hope you're really proud of yourselves.

Every year this report now.
Gets worse year by year, but that's no surprise is it.
Lets the people decide on a new Council on Thursda, well a third of it this year, the rest later.

Joedavid wrote:
Every year this report now.
Gets worse year by year, but that's no surprise is it.
Lets the people decide on a new Council on Thursda, well a third of it this year, the rest later.

Or better still vote yes for a new Mayor on Thursday. Once a new Mayor has been decided instead of the same old council which obviously is not and has not been fit for purpose for years, the public will have a vote in November to decide (yes public decide) who will be in charge of Bradford. Like the Mayoral system in London who are accountable to themselves and not the council. I think this system surely cannot be any worse and hopefully better, than the system we have at the moment. The main point is that the public will have their say for once.

I can't believe that children can't get in there local schools even when you have to apply for five schools and children don't get one of there choices it's a disgrace. The government need to do some thing about it sooner rather than later. Also it's disgusting that children are getting into schools because parents are giving false addresses.

The powers that be get the best part of 5 years warning that a child will need to go to a school somewhere. The obvious solution is to expand the schools to suit the local demand for places, but that is too difficult and complicated for our poor overworked (sic) council officers!

We are 1 of the unfortunate 302 families that have not been allocated a space from their preferred 5 choices! To say we are devastated does not cover it! Bfd Council have a lot to answer for! No idea what we are going to do!

Cat Whiteoak wrote:
We are 1 of the unfortunate 302 families that have not been allocated a space from their preferred 5 choices! To say we are devastated does not cover it! Bfd Council have a lot to answer for! No idea what we are going to do!

i know my daughter is one of those parents as well, we are devastated by this they don't understand what pressure it puts parents under

it is common knowledge that in eldwick there are 2 catchments area in the village. if you live in catchment 1 you are more likely to get in to the school. When moving to the village people should consider this. The sibling rulling also applies in the school ( any child with a brother or sister in the school get in first ). People cant just expect to get in the school . Do your research before moving to the area.

Ch33rs wrote:
I can't believe that children can't get in there local schools even when you have to apply for five schools and children don't get one of there choices it's a disgrace. The government need to do some thing about it sooner rather than later. Also it's disgusting that children are getting into schools because parents are giving false addresses.

There should be no need to do that of giving a false address.
Councils fault that all schools of not the same good standard.

Is this only a 'white' problem, or are 'asian' parents not getting their children into their prefered schools?

Yet again our education department are failing our children. Mrs Colman has said 'we are pleased so many families have been allocated a place at one of their preferred schools'. And why have so many got one of their chosen schools, because this year they gave parents a choice of up to 5 schools instead of the usual 3. Of course more got one of their choices! This was one of my concerns last year when I started my petition to try and improve our allocation system. Our education system is an absolute disgrace and is failing the children of the Bradford district.

Colin Allcars wrote:
Is this only a 'white' problem, or are 'asian' parents not getting their children into their prefered schools?

It looks that way, especially when I know that a child has been given a school that if they attended would be the only white English speaking child in the school!!!!!

My daughter is one of those who didnt get ANY of her 5 choices 1 of which is less than 5 minutes away instead they send her to a school further away which is in special measures! Im sick with worry and think its disgusting they let you pick 5 then just send you where they want just to fill up a failing school, Windhill!

Oh julesbeth I really feel for you. My son failed to get any of our 3 choices. Windhill was one of the options given to us which was rapidly declined. I picked the best out of a very bad bunch - high crags. The teachers are fantastic but I still look forward to the day I get the call offering a different school. Don't give up hope though. Keep on at the education department. If you need ANY advice I would be more than happy to tell you everything I know.

JulesB7 -I share your story too, think we spoke last year.
I feel sick for the children and parents that are having to through this again this year- I had hoped that the council would have pulled their fingers out and got something sorted.
If after 5 choices are exhausted and still can't allocate a preferred school on the current selection criteria they must realise something isn't working!
Our non preferred allocated school has turned out to be fantastic, and the SATs/Ofsted reports do not reflect on the actual effort and dedication put in by the teachers and support staff.
Try appealing if you like but it's a lot of heartache and still not guaranteed a place (even the Legal Obmbudsman referral for a second appeal did absolutely nothing for us)
That said chin up :o) I do feel there's a call coming soon for our chosen school!

I don't care WHAT colour someone's skin is they have a right to a good education at a local school. For all the bigots out there 1. None of us are truly British, we have been invaded more times than I care to count, 2. Perhaps we want to live n the suburbs to get away from bigots. The fact of the matter is the council has failed to keep the infrastructure of villages in line with their planning policies.

The council has been failing people for a long time, get your revenge vote some of the deadbeats out this week

Colin Allcars wrote:
Is this only a 'white' problem, or are 'asian' parents not getting their children into their prefered schools?

Here you go Colin....let us know what you discover http://www.bradford.
gov.uk/bmdc/contact_
us/online_forms/foi_
request_form.htm

EthelBurger wrote:
I think it's disgraceful that kids can't attend their local primary.
You should have a right to a place at the school nearest your house. End of debate. Bradford Council is an utter shambles and not fit-for-purpose.

I think it's disgraceful that kids can't attend their local primary because other kids from outside area who's parents give false details attened the school !

Colin Allcars wrote:
Is this only a 'white' problem, or are 'asian' parents not getting their children into their prefered schools?

some asian parents are getting their children into their preferd "Eldwick Primary" even though they are not in the catchment area

Ch33rs wrote:
I can't believe that children can't get in there local schools even when you have to apply for five schools and children don't get one of there choices it's a disgrace. The government need to do some thing about it sooner rather than later. Also it's disgusting that children are getting into schools because parents are giving false addresses.

it is disgusting that children are getting into schools because parents are giving false addresses. it is also disgusting the school then ignoring it !

Daftaperth wrote:
I don't care WHAT colour someone's skin is they have a right to a good education at a local school. For all the bigots out there 1. None of us are truly British, we have been invaded more times than I care to count, 2. Perhaps we want to live n the suburbs to get away from bigots. The fact of the matter is the council has failed to keep the infrastructure of villages in line with their planning policies.

it has never been a race issue, perhaps some don't want to live where drugs, crime, and race issues, are more rife, also perhaps people who have always lived in the suburbs should wake up to life other areas . Colour of skin is not an issue, it would seem we import people who will not enhance the country of all colour creed and religion, can anyone just go to Newzealend Or Auss ?

I don't think it's got anything to do with anything but supply and demand. We were lucky and were allocated our first choice, but didn't get a look in at any of the other 4. This was purely based on a) where we live based on distance from school and b) number of applicants. Now I didn't choose the 5 schools closest to me either, and that was my choice so it's probably no wonder I didn't get offered any of the others, and had I have been decline for my first choice, I would have been allocated a school not of my choosing. Partly My fault for being picky!!
Anyway the other issue re supply and demand... A housing development near us was granted permission last year, but the council ruled that no section 106 contribution was required for schooling because the extra demand on the local school would not be that great... Erm, 40 new houses with up to 4 beds each, and our school only takes 15 children a year... Is my maths abit rusty or what?!?!?!? Bradford council will be proved to be the sham that it is within time i am sure... I live in hope for an elected mayor so greenwood and his croneys get the boot and let someone with some integrity do the job right!!!

I took the issue of false addresses to council last year to ask for proof of address. What was I told, oh it gives us 40,000 more pieces of paper to go through. They don't!! A computer does!!! Your children's education is decided by a computer and the rest of the department can't go through 40,000 pieces of paper between then in 3 months to check that people aren't lying about where they live? No they can't do what happened after I took this to council? I received an email last week from Cath tunstall telling me the wording on applications will change. It's now going to say that you agree your giving true information 'to the best of your knowledge'!!!! if you are found out to be lying you 'might' be taken to court - which won't happen because of tight council budgets, and your child 'might' lose their place at the school given. Yeah when I reported a fraudulent application it was dismissed as being rubbish. What a complete joke!!

Julesb7 wrote:
I took the issue of false addresses to council last year to ask for proof of address. What was I told, oh it gives us 40,000 more pieces of paper to go through. They don't!! A computer does!!! Your children's education is decided by a computer and the rest of the department can't go through 40,000 pieces of paper between then in 3 months to check that people aren't lying about where they live? No they can't do what happened after I took this to council? I received an email last week from Cath tunstall telling me the wording on applications will change. It's now going to say that you agree your giving true information 'to the best of your knowledge'!!!! if you are found out to be lying you 'might' be taken to court - which won't happen because of tight council budgets, and your child 'might' lose their place at the school given. Yeah when I reported a fraudulent application it was dismissed as being rubbish. What a complete joke!!

It is easy make the school accountable for the pupils, all it takes is proof of id where the child lives.may be ths council are frightened of what would happen if the enforced this policy?

The simple way would be to let kids go to their closest school but then you would get other problems. What happens when it is full? What if parents want them to go to a school a little bit further away? Overall there will never be a system that allows everyone to go to the school of their choice unless you just let schools grow and shrink each year to do this all the teachers would have to be on temp contracts so they can be laid off if the school becomes unpopular.

Storck wrote:
The simple way would be to let kids go to their closest school but then you would get other problems. What happens when it is full? What if parents want them to go to a school a little bit further away? Overall there will never be a system that allows everyone to go to the school of their choice unless you just let schools grow and shrink each year to do this all the teachers would have to be on temp contracts so they can be laid off if the school becomes unpopular.

And it's only going to get worse when you get the Free schools and Academies controlling their own admissions and running alonside the Muslim, Catholic, CofE schools that already have their own admissions rules. It's farcical, how can you plan an Educaction system with so many different parties pulling in different directions and with their own agendas?

A Muslim is a citizen of this tiny global village. He does not want to become notoriously monolingual Brit. A Muslim child learns and be well versed in Standard English to follow the National; Curriculum and go for higher studies and research to serve humanity. At the same time he learns and be well versed in Arabic, Urdu and other community languages to keep in touch with his cultural heritage and enjoy the beauty of his literature and poetry.

Bilingual Muslim children need state funded Muslim schools with bilingual Muslim teachers as role models during their developmental periods. There is no place for a non-Muslim child or a teacher in a Muslim schools. There are hundreds of state and church schools where Muslim children are in majority. In my opinion, all such schools may be opted out as Muslim Academies.
IA
http://www.londonsch

oolofislamics.org.uk
”

Iftikhar wrote:
A Muslim is a citizen of this tiny global village. He does not want to become notoriously monolingual Brit. A Muslim child learns and be well versed in Standard English to follow the National; Curriculum and go for higher studies and research to serve humanity. At the same time he learns and be well versed in Arabic, Urdu and other community languages to keep in touch with his cultural heritage and enjoy the beauty of his literature and poetry.

Bilingual Muslim children need state funded Muslim schools with bilingual Muslim teachers as role models during their developmental periods. There is no place for a non-Muslim child or a teacher in a Muslim schools. There are hundreds of state and church schools where Muslim children are in majority. In my opinion, all such schools may be opted out as Muslim Academies.
IA
http://www.londonsch


oolofislamics.org.uk

”

Put down that alarm clock!

It is understandable that parents are upset their children weren't allocated places in their preferred choice of schools but however I feel the comments that have been made about Trinity All Saints Primary are both unfair and absolute rubbish. My son is currently in year 3 at Trinity and he has gone from strength to strength since he started at the schools nursery in Nov 06. Teachers at the school work closely with parents to ensure each child can realise his/her individual potential both in and out of school. Staff here go the extra mile to support parents in any way they can, Myself and a number of other parents have recently gained level 2 qualifications in both literacy and numeracy which is thanks to Trinity all Saints Staff arranging courses and giving up there time to support and encourage us. Trinity was my first choice of school for my daughter who will be starting in September and I know that at this school she will receive all the help and support needed to do well. The school strives for excellence and if you were to take time to look around and speak with the staff there i'm sure you would have a very different opinion about it

Mummykris wrote:
It is understandable that parents are upset their children weren't allocated places in their preferred choice of schools but however I feel the comments that have been made about Trinity All Saints Primary are both unfair and absolute rubbish. My son is currently in year 3 at Trinity and he has gone from strength to strength since he started at the schools nursery in Nov 06. Teachers at the school work closely with parents to ensure each child can realise his/her individual potential both in and out of school. Staff here go the extra mile to support parents in any way they can, Myself and a number of other parents have recently gained level 2 qualifications in both literacy and numeracy which is thanks to Trinity all Saints Staff arranging courses and giving up there time to support and encourage us. Trinity was my first choice of school for my daughter who will be starting in September and I know that at this school she will receive all the help and support needed to do well. The school strives for excellence and if you were to take time to look around and speak with the staff there i'm sure you would have a very different opinion about it

The points are that Trinity All Saints wasn't one of the 5 schools chosen by the parent in the article and it is nowhere near where he lives. If there ar 13 people in the Priority area in Eldwick who have to travel to Trinity how are they going to do it? Without a car would you fancy pushing a pram up and down that hill twice a day? Trinity All Saints is being expanded to cope with the overflow in Bingley but it's main problem is that it isn't actually anywhere near the houses it is expecting to take children from. Primary schools have to be close to peoples homes, Trinity isn't.

And the fact that Elwick Primary school wasn't expanded back in 2004 when it was proposed was down to the opposition from Trinity All Saints as the expansion had to have a unanimous vote and they wouldn't agree. The previous head was even at public meetings speaking against the expansion. The distance to Trinity and the fact it wasn't fair to make 4 year olds travel all the way from Eldwick was pointed out to Dale Smith, Education Portfolio holder at the time, and David Ward but they didn't want to know.