Mike Barker says, "Too many parents and pupils are being let down in Darlington"

11.41.42am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 27th Feb 2008

Figures published yesterday for Secondary School admissions in 2007 show that Darlington last year was one of the poorest performers in the whole country at providing parents and pupils with their first choice of secondary school. While in nearby Stockton every single child went to their first choice school, Hartlepool managed 98% and Durham 97%, in Darlington only 66% got their first choice. Darlington languishes near the bottom of the national league tables, along with most of the London Boroughs.

Indeed, not only did one-third of parents not get their first choice school, 13% were sent to a school which didn't feature anywhere in their preferred options: the third worst score in the whole country!

One thing is clear, whatever the Council may tell us about improvements in secondary education in the town, parents last year voted with their feet and tried to keep their children away from the under performing schools. There is clearly not enough space in the good schools, so many pupils and parents are being forced into schools they would rather avoid.

Mike Barker, Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Darlington, said, "We hope to see a significant improvement in the 2008 figures. Last year, too many parents and children were let down in Darlington. You only get one chance at school, and one-third of our pupils are starting their secondary school life at a school their parents would prefer them not to be at. This is unacceptable and only significantly improved exam results will see an end to this scandal."

Related Link:

The BBC story on 2007 school admissions.