EVERY once in a while there appears an article in your paper that makes me seethe with anger, and the one headlined: "Parents' black marks over schools switch" is one of those occasions.

My daughter left primary school at the age of 11 years having achieved level 6s in all three SAT tests, which is above average. She started in one of the borough's secondary schools, and was an A grade student in all subjects.

Within twelve months she had become a C or D grade student, and after months of heartache and pain, admitted that she was being very badly bullied at school.

Her father and I spent many months trying to address the issue with the school. The school said they did not tolerate bullying - and gave the offenders a detention.

At this stage we decided to move our daughter to another school. We had to go through the appeals panel, and we won our case after having made the panel, by the use of photographic evidence and other supporting evidence, aware of the seriousness of the situation. The local LEA was there to make their case against my daughters move, as they didn't think it was necessary.

My daughter won her move, is back to being a straight A grade student for all subjects, and has just taken three GCSEs a year early and gained As and Bs in all three subjects. So it was all worth it.

Then I read the story that education bosses in Bolton consider these transfers to be "not in the best interests of the children". Of the reasons listed that are "acceptable", getting away from physical violence and bullying is not one of them.

I have no doubt that the authorities will read this letter and say that we had good reason, but that wasn't their position at the appeal - in fact, quite the reverse. I would challenge the LEA to look at my daughter's case now and say it was all for no good reason.

If the LEA had their way at the appeal, my daughter would be lucky to get a handful of D grade GCSEs. Instead, she is a star pupil and well on course to complete all GCSEs this year, as well as an AS level in English Literature a year early.

The 800 people who appeal for a move clearly feel it is in the best interests of their child, and are not doing it for the administrative problems it causes.

Kathy Gee

Pinfold Close

Westhoughton