Upset as pupils miss out on schools

Dismayed parents across the Black Country today told the Express & Star about their school admission woes.

Scores of parents have been left desperately disappointed after their children did not get places at the school of their choice.

They are now facing up to an appeals process. In Walsall, a quarter of 11-year-olds missed out after 75.19 per cent got places at their first choice secondary schools. A further 13.25 per cent got a place at their second choice school and 4.23 per cent were allocated a spot at their third choice school.

In Sandwell, 73.8 per cent of parents got the news that their child had got into the school of their choice.

But parents in Staffordshire fared better after 96 per cent of pupils were handed spots at the school of their choice.

For mother-of-three Louise Milloshas, of Aldridge, Walsall, there was heartache when her 11-year-old daughter Maria did not get a place at her first choice school, St Francis of Assisi.

Mrs Milloshas said she was told Maria, who attends St Mary's of The Angels, did not fit the necessary criteria and in the absence of a second-choice selection, was handed a place at Blue Coat Church of England Comprehensive School instead.

The 36-year-old, a health care worker, believes her daughter has been refused entry on religious grounds.

"Maria is Greek Orthodox, which is very close to Roman Catholic but there are no Greek Orthodox schools around here," she said. Mrs Milloshas now faces getting Maria to school near Walsall town centre and two other children to school in Aldridge.

Paul Baxter, of Ryders Hayes, Pelsall, finds himself in a similar situation after his 11-year-old daughter Samantha was not given a place at any of her three chosen schools.

Her older sister already attends Walsall Academy, but Samantha, a pupil at Ryders Hayes Primary School, has been allocated a spot at Brownhills Community Technology College.

Kerry Rowlands, aged 32, of Bloxwich, was left "upset and disheartened" when her 11-year-old daughter was refused all three of her options. "I think it's very unfair," she said.

"I thought the catchment procedure was one day going to be stopped."

All three are planning to appeal the decisions.

* Are you one of the disappointed parents? Ring our reporters on 01902 319427 or email newsdesk@expressandstar.co.uk