Let's join forces on this school problem

Fifteen Balfour Infants children who apply for admission to the junior school each year are not allocated a place at the junior school because there is a disparity in numbers between both schools.

The ongoing nature of these problems can be seen as symptomatic of the failure of parents, governors, teachers and the LEA alike to reach a satisfactory solution.

The proposed merger of the two schools this year was to have provided a solution to both issues. The annual problem of children not being able to move with the rest of their class to the junior school would have been erased.

Year 2 children in the infant school would have automatically transferred to or moved within the junior and primary schools.

The merger did not happen and there were strong arguments presented against the plan. The problems remain.

As a result, our son, who is in Year 2 at Balfour Infants, has not been allocated a place at the junior school. We live outside this year's catchment area.

We have all found the experience upsetting and unsettling. We have two daughters who have both been pupils at the junior school and have firm links with the school.

Our son wants only to go where his friends are going and is the only child in his class not going to the junior school. He sees no good reason why he has to change schools and be different.

The adverse effects of all this have been noticed in his schoolwork, friendship group and level of self-confidence.

We know he will eventually settle at his new school and remain positive about it but we also feel strongly the stress created for us all during recent months has been unnecessary and could have been avoided.

We therefore urge all involved in the two schools and, in particular, the members of the lobbying group BAGAM who fought such a successful campaign against the merger to pool their energies and skills to work towards finding a solution.

-P Brooks, Beaconsfield Villas, Brighton