Parents raise concerns over Trafford secondary school allocations

A group of parents in Ashton-on-Mersey have raised concerns over Trafford Council’s school admissions process after their children were allocated places at a secondary school in Partington, approximately five miles away from their homes.

Ashton on Mersey School

Lisa Marie Street, one of around 30 affected parents, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that her 11-year-old daughter, Harriett, was distraught upon learning she had not secured a place at a school close to home.

“She struggled to comprehend why she had been denied a place at a school less than a mile away while being sent to a school in an unfamiliar area,” she said.

Other parents in the group claim that their children were not allocated any of their five preferred school choices, despite living in the area for years.

A petition launched by local resident Kate Bader has gained over 1,200 signatures at the time of writing, calling for a review of the school placement process. The petition highlights concerns that an increase in applications to Trafford’s grammar schools from students outside the borough has impacted local high school placements.

Affected families have also contacted Altrincham and Sale West MP Connor Rand, who has pledged to support them. Mr Rand told the LDRS: “Parents should have the chance for their children to be educated in an appropriate school close to where they live, rather than a school that would take almost two hours to get to on public transport.”

In response, a Trafford Council spokesperson acknowledged that a small number of applicants had not been offered a place at a local school due to oversubscription.

“Unfortunately, places for schools in Sale were oversubscribed, and, as in previous years, we provided Sale residents with tailored application advice to give themselves the best chance of achieving a local place,” the spokesperson said.

The council confirmed that 93 per cent of parents in Trafford were offered places at one of their top three choices and that advice on the appeals process had been provided to affected families.

Parents will now launch individual appeals and are calling on the council to consider additional measures such as expanding local schools or introducing ‘bulge classes’ to accommodate more students.

The situation remains ongoing as parents await the results of their appeals.