HUNDREDS of Bolton parents are demanding that their children are transferred to a different school without good reason, education bosses say.

Each year, parents make 800 applications for pupils to change secondary school during term time.

Of these, about 25 per cent are from parents who want to move their child for "questionable reasons", according to education chiefs.

Many parents are requesting transfers so their child can avoid disciplinary action, because of poor attendance record, disagreements between the parents and the school, or because of personal difficulties.

Education bosses are so concerned about the issue that they intend to set up an admissions panel to consider secondary school transfers.

In a report, Val Fogg, manager of pupil and student services, said transferring children without good reason "is not considered to be in the best interests of children".

She said: "Although a fresh start in a new school can resolve past difficulties, often they do not and so similar problems can quickly resurface.

"The new school is therefore understandably reluctant to admit such children who do not have a 'good reason' to transfer, with the result that pupils may well be withdrawn from their former school, only to be out of full-time schooling for many weeks while the local educational authority tries to secure an alternative placement.

"The LEA is clear that pupils should not be withdrawn from school unilaterally and will not provide home or other out-of-school tuition in such circumstances."

Mrs Fogg said children transferring without good reason places extra burdens on admission staff and is especially problematic for pupils in Year 10 and 11 who are due to sit their GCSEs.

The panel would be made up of a nominated headteacher, an LEA pupil support manager and the principal education social worker. It would meet once a term to consider school transfer requests which, if approved, would be arranged at the start of the next term.

The panel would only have the power to make recommendations and schools have a legal obligation to admit pupils if places are available.

Pupils who want to transfer for "genuine reasons" would not need to go before the panel.

Acceptable reasons for transferring include house moves, illness, permanent exclusions, domestic violence or the onset of degenerative conditions.

A similar scheme in Blackburn with Darwen has reduced school transfer numbers.

In Bolton, there are currently only two schools with vacancies in every year group. All other secondary schools are over subscribed by up to 10 per cent.

At primary schools, transfer requests are dealt with by individual schools.

While precise figures are unknown for that group, primary school headteachers have expressed concern about similar trends.