Published: Thursday, 18th June, 2009 4:00pm
Mum fights to unite her sons
by Emma Harrison
Comments (20) | 
Print | 
Email
Divided: Brothers Thomas, left, and Jack.
A DISTRESSED mum has called for a change in the law after her son was rejected from the school attended by his older brother.
Four-year-old Thomas Cooper is desperate to join his older brother, Jack, at Harmans Water Primary when he moves from nursery to 'big school" in September.
But Lisa Cooper of Willwood Road, Priestwood, has been told he does not qualify for a place.
Mrs Cooper said: 'It is very important to Thomas that he becomes a pupil at Harmans Water as he is a very shy, quiet and anxious little boy - he finds it difficult to mix outside his family unit.
'Over the last year at nursery he has adjusted very well and has tried to overcome his anxiety and shyness. He has grown in confidence and this has helped with his education and social skills.'
Cold-hearted education bosses at Bracknell Forest Council ruled that Thomas does not live in the right catchment area and have instead allocated him a place at Fox Hill - leaving him worried and upset about going to a new school without eight-year-old Jack to keep a brotherly eye on him.
The family moved in December 2005 sortly after Jack started at Harmans Water. they previously lived in Barn Close, Bullbrook, which is also not in the catchment area for Harmans Water.
Current admissions rules state that siblings are given priority for school places, except when the elder child doesn not live in the school's catchment area.
Mrs Cooper said: "The rules should definitely be changed. I've spoken to the council about this but they're just not interested, they're not budging.
"The actual school for our catchment area is Meadow vale, it would have been a lot easier for me to get there but they're not using any common sense.
"They should definitely give preferential treatment to children with brothers or sisters at the school already."
Mrs Cooper said Thomas"s behaviour has changed since the family"s application for the school in Wellington Drive was rejected.
She said: 'Thomas is not the happy little boy he had grown into.
'He is upset about having to go to a different school and thought it was because he had done something wrong.'
Mrs Cooper added: 'How can I be in two places at the same time without letting one child down? It is impossible, so one of my children will be late arriving at school in the morning and will have to leave early at the end of school daily. The boys are both getting anxious.'
Mrs Cooper has appealed against the decision and is hoping for a u-turn from the council at an appeal at Easthampstead House on Thursday, June 25.
David Watkins, chief officer for performance and resources, said: 'Bracknell Forest Council allocated first preference schools to 94 per cent of the 1,341 applications for primary school places for the next academic year. When allocating pupils to schools, our top criteria is always based on location, as we believe in local schools for local children.'
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
chloe
(Unregistered User)
Jun 18 09 18:19
Our Ref: 4137
Use the ref number if you need to report this comment
This is just stupid get your fingers out Bracknell Forest and send these 2 little boys to the same school !!!
Report this comment
Rob
(Unregistered User)
Jun 19 09 07:46
Our Ref: 4140
Use the ref number if you need to report this comment
I would like to see David Watkins get these two children to the same school!!!!!!!!!!!!
If not maybe he could help out in sept with the school run!!!!!
Report this comment
Mr C J O'Donnell
(Unregistered User)
Jun 19 09 10:15
Our Ref: 4142
Use the ref number if you need to report this comment
Maybe if these boy's were'nt white & ENGLISH this would not be a issue!!
Report this comment
Matt
(Unregistered User)
Jun 19 09 10:23
Our Ref: 4143
Use the ref number if you need to report this comment
Does anyone know if any councillors have had to appeal against their own children’s school placement decision this year?
Report this comment
M. Harris
(Unregistered User)
Jun 19 09 10:27
Our Ref: 4144
Use the ref number if you need to report this comment
Local schools for local people !!!!
Answer me how the mother can be in two places at the same time to pick up her children?
Or are you trying to split this loving family up!!
Or will the council supply a childminder to pick up one of the children at the tax payers expense
Common sense is needed let them go to the same school.
Report this comment
Matt
(Unregistered User)
Jun 19 09 10:32
Our Ref: 4146
Use the ref number if you need to report this comment
Does anyone know if any councillors have had to appeal against their own children’s school placement decision this year?
Report this comment
Matt
(Unregistered User)
Jun 19 09 10:34
Our Ref: 4147
Use the ref number if you need to report this comment
Does anyone know if any councillors have had to appeal against their own children’s school placement decision this year?
Report this comment
sueway
(Unregistered User)
Jun 19 09 10:41
Our Ref: 4148
Use the ref number if you need to report this comment
thats about right we all no why our kids arent getting in to the schools we want them in
Report this comment
sue
(Unregistered User)
Jun 19 09 10:51
Our Ref: 4149
Use the ref number if you need to report this comment
they should build more schools,or make the once we have got bigger with all the council tax we pay they could have indoor and outdoor swiming pools
Report this comment
Andrew
(Unregistered User)
Jun 19 09 10:58
Our Ref: 4150
Use the ref number if you need to report this comment
yeah go on Bracknell News do some digging into the coucellors, if the MP's are anything to go by...... Hint hint!
Report this comment
Jim
(Unregistered User)
Jun 19 09 10:59
Our Ref: 4151
Use the ref number if you need to report this comment
This just about sums up the society we live in today.
It would be intresting to see what the school has to say about this!
or don't they care?
these kids are the future of our country. whats left of it.
Report this comment
chris
(Unregistered User)
Jun 19 09 22:33
Our Ref: 4166
Use the ref number if you need to report this comment
I am in the same boat i have three children 1 of them attends harmenswater year 2 my second child is just finishing nursery and school admissions say she cannot go up to reception but they will place her in another school (Great Hollands) this is unacceptable how can i be at two different schools at the sames time.
The school say they are trying to help us but unless your child is a BULLY this does not appear to be the case.
The whole system stinks and is in great need of change, Were all told the child always comes first told what a load of bull my daughter has been in floods of tears knowing she cannot go up with her friends and every morning is fight just to get her to go in. Chris Peters
Report this comment
Diane
(Unregistered User)
Jun 20 09 15:28
Our Ref: 4170
Use the ref number if you need to report this comment
Once the eldest child has been given a place despite him always living outside the catchment, then his sibling should also be allowed to attend as it is not possible to be in 2 places at the same time and it is unsafe to leave either child waiting to be picked up. What will happen if the car isn\\\'t working? The mother can hardly leave extra early to pick up. The eldest surely isn\\\'t expected to change schools and as the youngest has been attending the nursery attached to the school this should also count in his favour as he will already have made alliances with class mates already. The nursery should be counted as part of the school so that parents don\\\'t have to worry whether their child will get into the big school with their friends.
Report this comment
colin
(Unregistered User)
Jun 20 09 15:34
Our Ref: 4171
Use the ref number if you need to report this comment
I would like to know , how you get 2 children to the same school . I bet school admissions dont have the same problem !!!!!!.
Report this comment
colin
(Unregistered User)
Jun 20 09 16:24
Our Ref: 4172
Use the ref number if you need to report this comment
I would like to know , how you get 2 children to the same school . I bet school admissions dont have the same problem !!!!!!.
Report this comment
Mr P Colley
(Unregistered User)
Jun 21 09 17:31
Our Ref: 4179
Use the ref number if you need to report this comment
When are we going to look after our own, instead of all the imagrants as it seems these are alway put before the english local people. this is another example of anti intergration of ethnic minorities causing english people to resent foreign nationals settling in this country, because of the prioity treatment they recieve.\\r\\nITS A DISGRACE.
Report this comment
DJ SUSSEX
(Unregistered User)
Jun 22 09 08:03
Our Ref: 4182
Use the ref number if you need to report this comment
AS THE CHILDREN ARE FOURTH GENEATION OF BRACKNELL THE SCHOOLS HAVE NOT KEPT UP WITH THE EXPANTION OF BRACKNELL'S POPULATION THIS IS MAINLY DUE TO THE CONSERVATIVE ADMINISTRATION OF BRACKNELL COUNCIL OVER THE LAST 30+ YEAR'S WHAT HAVE THE COUNCIL DONE WITH GOVERMENT'S GRANT'S MONEY OVER THIS PERIOD?
DISCUSTED GRANDAD.....
Report this comment
JEAN
(Unregistered User)
Jun 22 09 19:02
Our Ref: 4199
Use the ref number if you need to report this comment
MY SON IS DUE TO START SEC; SCHOOL IN SEPT; WE LOOKED ROUND ALL SCHOOLS NEAR TO USE WITHIN EASY WALK DISTANCE
WE CHOOSE BRAKEHALL SCHOOL BECAUSE IT IS VERY SIMILIAR TO THE PRIMERY SCHOOL HE GOES TO NOW , SO WE BELIEVED IT MAKE IT EASIER FOR HIM TO SETTLE DOWN QUICKER. WE SENT IN THE ADMISSIONS FORM, WAITED AND GET BACK
A LETTER SAYING SORRY , BUT NO ROOM
BUT WE HAVE PUT HIM IN EASTHAMPSTEAD SCHOOL WHICH IS TWENTY MINS; DRIVING FROM US , OR TWO BUSES , CHANGING AT
TOWN CENTRE, THIS SCHOOL IS NOT IN OUR AREA, AND NOT OUR SELECTION ,
WE WENT TO AN APPEAL BUT ALL THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT WERE THERE FIGUES NOT THE WELFARE OF THE CHILD
THEY COULD OF PUT US IN GARTH AS IT IS TEN MINS FROM OUR HOUSE , WE DIDNT
CHOOSE THIS SCHOOL BECAUSE MY SON PREFERRRED A SMALLER SCHOOL BUT AT LEAST GARTH SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN US NOT ONE 20 MINS AWAY BY CAR, THE STATEMENT FROM LOCAL AUTH; SAYING THEY BELIEVE THERE SELECTION IS BASED ON YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL IS RUBBISH, IN MY SONS YEAR 6 A TOTAL APPR; 16 CHILDREN DIDD NOT GET THERE SCHOOL CHOICE WENT TO AN APPEAL AND WE ALL GOT THE SAME LETTERS WE DID NOT GET ANYWHERE SO SOME HOW I HAVE TO GET TWO CHILDREN SCHOOLS AT SAME TIMES ANY SUGGESTIONS ? PERHAPS THE LOCAL AUTH; DO ?
Report this comment
R Sussex
(Unregistered User)
Jun 23 09 15:54
Our Ref: 4213
Use the ref number if you need to report this comment
As a mother and nanny I find the education authorities in this case have no heart whatsoever, all this business shools for local children is a load of rubbish, these are to small children who cant speak for themselves and all they want to do is be together at a school they love and are fammiliar with. How could you tell a 4 year old that he cant be at school with his brother. could you?
Report this comment
Dr P
(Unregistered User)
Jun 24 09 15:29
Our Ref: 4239
Use the ref number if you need to report this comment
It sucks for the kid but, to be fair, the rest of us have to go to school without big brothers to look after us. I'm sure he'll cope.
I'm sure the council isn't just out to upset kids for the sake of it.
Report this comment
For your convenience, you can now register with our website (which will save you from having to retype your name each time you post a comment). If you would like to do this (or have already!) then please Log in or Register