CONCERNS have been raised as three primary schools in the same area of Wrexham are either full or oversubscribed.
A total of nine children have been denied entry to Ysgol Penrhyn in New Broughton, despite five of them attending the school’s nursery and many living nearby.
Brynteg County Primary School and Black Lane School in Pentre Broughton, which are the two nearest schools, are also said to be full.
Local councillor Alan Edwards said it had left parents in a dilemma over where to send their children.
He has now criticised Wrexham Council’s education department after claiming officers became aware of the impending surge in pupil numbers three years ago, but had failed to take action.
In an e-mail circulated to other councillors, he said: “Unfortunately, we seem to have a problem with the three schools in the Broughton area being full
“The council, in my opinion, are just burying their heads in the sand and hope the problem will go away.
“The children of Caego especially are being treated unfairly by the system.
“I would be interested to know which school the council suggests your child is supposed to go to as Ysgol Penrhyn and Brynteg cannot take any more.
“It’s about time this council started to think about people and fit policies around them.”
Cllr Edwards said education officials had acknowledged that Ysgol Penrhyn was in need of expansion.
However, he was told there was no money available to make the school bigger.
He said the council’s admissions method of allocating school places in was not supporting parents as it should be.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, he added: “The council’s criteria for Ysgol Penrhyn is that the school is the centre and then it’s the distance from there.
“But I’ve seen the admissions and there’s kids from Derby Road that are getting in and kids from Ffordd Powell in New Broughton can’t get in.
“They (officers) said the school needs expanding, but it might be awkward with the finance – the parents are fuming.”
Wrexham Council has been asked to comment.
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