Girl’s fight to get a place at local school

6:40am Thursday 28th August 2008

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By Lucy Clark »

SCHOOLGIRL Jacqueline Malaney has launched her own determined campaign to join her friends in the classroom.

Desperate to get a place at her local secondary school - instead of having to travel ten miles - she is trying everything.

The 13-year-old is anxious to join her mates at Hedge End's Wildern School instead of having to travel into Southampton from her Botley home just to go to school.

Jacqueline has attended Redbridge Community School for the past four months, after moving from The Toynbee School in Chandler's Ford. She was no longer able to get there after she and her father moved from Bishopstoke to Botley.

Redbridge Community School was a second choice for Jacqueline. It means she has to stay with her 34- year-old brother John Malaney at his house in Millbrook during school time.

Her father, also called John, said: "Since we moved to Botley, we have tried everything to get her into the local school, but it's next to impossible.

"I am angry about it - it's difficult making arrangements for her to get to school. She is really dejected by it all."

Jacqueline, whose mother died four years ago, applied to Wildern in 2007.

The initial application was refused, so she and her father took their case to an appeal in May 2007, which they also lost.

Since then, she has been on a waiting list as the school is full.

Jacqueline, who will start Year 9 next month, said: "Wildern is where my friends go. Because I have to stay at my brother's, I hardly ever see my dad."

Full schools in Hampshire operate waiting lists that work according to guidelines set out by the local education authority, Hampshire County Council.

Priority for places is given to children who are in the care of the local authority, children or families who have a serious medical, physical or psychological condition making it essential the child attends the preferred school, and children living within the catchment area with a brother or sister at the school.

Councillor David Kirk, the county council's executive member for children's services, said: "When families move from one area to another there are not always places available in their preferred school so I would always urge parents to check this when considering moving.

"If places are not available, parents can ask for their child's name to be added to the school's waiting list and they have the right to appeal to an independent admissions appeal panel.

"I understand in this case the family did this in May 2007 and their appeal was not upheld.

However, if a family's circumstances change it is possible for them to appeal again.