Parents are to fight education chiefs over the allocation of secondary school places for their children.

Thirteen out of 33 pupils at Middle Street School have not got their choice of secondary school with many allocated places at East Brighton College of Media Arts.

One mother said: "There are a lot of very special, very gifted children at Middle Street and now they are just being shoved out to this appalling school. I do not know how they have worked this out. None of us expected this. I think the plan is to get some gifted children in there to push up standards.

"But the reality is you only need one or two disruptive children and it will bring the others down. We are still very shocked at the moment but as well as making individual appeals we plan to stick together and hopefully get this overturned."

East Brighton College of Media Arts is Brighton's most troubled school. Last week the head, Tony Garwood, announced he was quitting in the summer. At the same time it was revealed he and the chairman of governors, Frieda Warman-Brown, kept secret a letter from the council education director, David Hawker, criticising the school and highlighting serious concerns about pupil behaviour and staff morale.

Yesterday, parents met teachers at Middle Street School to discuss their concerns. Head teacher Gina Hutchins said: "We believe all Brighton and Hove's secondary schools have a great deal to offer and that includes East Brighton College of Media Arts."

Steve Healey, head of admissions at Brighton and Hove education authority, said: "We endeavour to meet parental preference whenever we can."

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