asked the Minister of Education if he is aware that a number of girls aged 11 years, notwithstanding acceptance as suitable for entry to Worthing High School for Girls, have now been directed to the experimental bilateral King's Manor School, Shoreham by Sea; and if, in view of Section 76 of the Education Act, he will now direct the West Sussex Education Committee to find these girls grammar school places at Worthing High School for Girls, or at some other conventional grammar school.
There are more candidates for the accessible grammar schools in this area than there are places available. The authority therefore provides a grammar school course at King's Manor School to meet the increase in the demand. I see no grounds on which I could intervene on behalf of same children at the expense of displacing others who live nearer the Worthing High School for Girls.
asked the Minister of Education if he will set up an immediate public inquiry into the situation which has arisen in south-east West Sussex, where the wishes of many parents, whose children, aged 11 years, have been selected on merit for grammar and high school places, are being ignored by the West Sussex Education Committee, contrary to Section 76 of the Education Act.
When more candidates apply for admission to a particular school than can be accommodated there, some parents are inevitably disappointed. I have no evidence that the local education authority has not done its best to meet the wishes of parents within the limits of the accommodation available, and I do not consider that a public inquiry would help.