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Conservatives will scrap school catchment areas

Kate Stirrup
15/ 4/2004

PARENTS paying over the odds for houses near popular schools Parrs Wood in Didsbury and Oakwood in Chorlton could be wasting their money - if the Tories win the next general election.

The Conservations said they would scrap the catchment area system under which children who live nearest to the school are given priority for admission.

In 2001 Manchester's education authority changed from a 'feeder' system, where children were given priority if they attended certain primary school linked to high schools, to the current catchment system where proximity is a key factor.

The changeover caused a scrum for places at Parrs Wood Technology in Didsbury where parents have bought or rented second homes near to the school in order to ensure their children got a place.

Many who had presumed for years that their children would go to Parrs Wood or Oakwood under the old system were bitterly disappointed to find themselves at the back of the queue.

Conservative education spokesperson, Tim Yeo, outlined the proposal at last week's National Union of Teachers conference saying schools could be prevented from using proximity to a school to determine places.

The new scheme has got the backing of Peter Hilton, ex-leader of Manchester Conservative Party and Didsbury candidate for the forthcoming local elections.

Mr Hilton told the Reporter: "I welcome anything that extends the scope of choice to those who are less affluent and cannot afford to buy homes in certain areas."

"The current policy discriminates against people from lesser backgrounds, who do not have the same level of choice. I am sure this is the thinking behind this plan."

Julian Wadden, of Didsbury estate agents Jordan Fishwick Wadden said the Tory's change to admission rules would not cause a property crash.

He said: "This would not make house prices drop, but the demand for a house near to a good school wouldn't be so frantic. Family homes near to good schools are hugely in demand and can push the price up by many, many thousands. Being close to a good school is number one on parents' list of demands for a family home."