Anne Main secures meeting with Minister over school places
21st May 2009
During a debate on school places in St Albans yesterday Anne Main, MP for St Albans, secured a meeting between the schools Minister and local councils to discuss a way forward on the issue.
During a debate on school places in St Albans yesterday Anne Main, MP for St Albans, secured a meeting between the schools Minister and local councils to discuss a way forward on the issue.
Anne called the debate following meetings with local parents, and used the opportunity to raise the matter with the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools and Learners, Sarah McCarthy-Fry.
During the debate, Anne said:
"In my area, some parents still do not know what will happen. The continuing interest rules are causing deep disquiet. People are keeping their options open, having been allocated perhaps a third-choice school, in the hope that they will move up the ranks. Other parents have no school place whatever for their child. I hope that the Minister will deal with some of those issues."
Upon leaving the chamber, Anne said:
"I think I put across forcefully the perverse consequences the current system has caused in our city. In recent weeks, I have had lengthy meetings, correspondence and conversations with parents on this issue and I know how disappointed many local parents are.
I am grateful to the Minister for agreeing to this meeting and I hope we will be able to find a way forward for local families.""
