MP condemns school placements that will split families
24th October 2006
Mike Penning condemned Government plans to end automatic placement of siblings in the same school to promote "equal access".
Under new Government plans, brothers and sisters will no longer be automatically admitted to the same state school. The plans came to light in the draft ‘Code of Admissions’ currently out for consultation. The move will only affect schools that are ‘partially selective’, however with the increasing number of specialist schools that refers to a larger number of state schools.
In an interview with the Evening Standard Mike Penning called the plans “an outrageous attack on the family and family life”.
He later added:
“The problems this would cause are never-ending. Imagine the additional chaos if parents have to make the school run to two different schools every morning and afternoon? Large families will not be able to hand down uniforms – they will have to buy two separate sets. They will have to have separate school photographs – instead of joint ones, as any parent will tell you all these things soon start to add up. These plans will add extra expenses to already cash-strapped families.”
