PARENTS whose children have been refused places at Tadcaster Grammar School have united to form an action group.

They came together after fourteen final-year primary school children from Bishopthorpe, Acaster Malbis and Long Marston, which are within Tadcaster's catchment, missed out on secondary school places there.

The school is oversubscribed and North Yorkshire County Council has said that children living furthest away within the catchment cannot have places this year.

But Selby MP John Grogan, who has called on the county council to change its mind, claims the grammar school is prepared to take them in.

Parents formed the action committee after meeting in the Ebor Pub in Bishopthorpe to discuss the issue.

They intend to send a joint letter of appeal to the education authority as well as individual ones before the March 15 deadline.

Organiser Suzanne Dickinson, from Bishopthorpe, whose daughter Emma goes to the village school, said the decision would separate school friends and be divisive.

"We're very angry," she said.

"We will fight this together.

Meanwhile, Amber Barnitt, from Long Marston, near York, said she was "disgusted" after being told her 11-year-old daughter Julia was the only child in the village to be denied a place at the grammar school.

"My daughter feels like she has done something wrong," she said.

"How can they single out one little girl from her friends? They've given no regard to her feelings.

"I haven't slept for two nights over this."

Bishopthorpe councillor John Galvin told the meeting that they had a "glimmer of hope" by going to appeal.

"You have a good argument in terms of the historical link between the two schools and the fact the grammar school has its doors open to you.

"It's vital you all sing from the same hymn sheet."

Mr Grogan said: "The admission limit is 250 but the school's governing body have already said they are prepared to raise the admissions limit to 260 from next year.

"All fourteen children in question live in the catchment area which has only recently been reaffirmed.

"North Yorkshire Education Authority has a good record but this decision flouts common sense.

"Rather than prolonging the agony with appeals they should just admit their mistake and offer the children a place. The key factor is that the school wants to honour its promise to Bishopthorpe and admit the children.

"Surely they know better than an official sitting in County Hall?"

Updated: 08:32 Tuesday, March 05, 2002