This system is so confusing
SARAH Lawrenson is one of those parents who has not been offered a place at any of her son’s preferred primary schools.
Sarah, 44, moved to Littleborough with her little boy James, four, 18 months ago after separating from her partner.
She moved to the area so she could send James to a school near to where she works in Littleborough, and to be close to her mother.
Sarah knew getting a place in one of her preferred primary schools in Littleborough would be tough, so she made sure she was one of the first parents to submit her application.
This week she was disappointed to discover James had not been offered place at any of her first three choices.
She was denied a place at Holy Trinity School in Victoria Street, St Mary’s RC Primary School or Stansfield Hall Primary School.
Instead Rochdale council has offered Sarah’s son a place at Alice Ingham Primary School towards Rochdale, which would mean a 40-minute round-trip in rush-hour traffic. Sarah said the primary school application process is too confusing and stressful for parents who want to send their children to their local school.
Sarah, a health and safety adviser, said: “It’s not the individual schools’ fault. It’s the admissions system which is so stressful and confusing for parents.
“It just feels wrong that you have to fight so hard to get your child a place at your local school. It doesn’t seem right.”