I would like to commend the courage of Brighton and Hove City Council's children, family and schools committee for considering the needs of the city as a whole and voting to change the secondary admissions procedure (The Argus, February 3).

I have lived in central Brighton for more than 20 years and am well aware of the historical links the central area has had with some secondary schools.

Following the changes which were made to the admissions procedure in 2004, to introduce a distanceonly criteria, we have seen everything change.

It must be noted there was no widespread consultation process or debate when the 2004 change was made.

Children in our area in two years have had no access to a known secondary school and at my own children's primary school, last year's Year Six ended up at seven different secondary schools.

The effects on the children were devastating. We wait with bated breath to see what will happen to this year's pupils. Sadly for them, the change has come too late.

This deplorable situation is repeated across a whole swathe of the city from East Brighton to Wish ward in Hove.

No system can ever be perfect but a system should strive to be equitable. This change will help maintain our communities, give a better balance to the population of the city and share the education resources of the city with all of its children in a far more comprehensive and socially just way.

M Fitzgibbon
Powis Grove, Hove