A BOLTON politician is calling for a radical shake up of the town's education policy to allow brothers and sisters to attend the same school.

Peter Thurnham is also urging Turton School to stop giving priority to families living in Lancashire.

Mr Thurnham, Independent MP for Bolton North East, met with the town's new director of education, Mrs Margaret Blenkinsop, to put his views across.

He explained: "I feel strongly that Bolton's current policy is anti-family and out of line with most other local authorities. "I have taken up a number of cases where younger children are extremely distressed to find they are unable to gain admission to the same school as their elder brother or sister, causing disruption to family life."

With last night's television documentary on Canon Slade School in mind, Mr Thurnham also met with the Rev Peter Shepherd, its headteacher.

He explained: "I wanted to urge greater priority for sibling links at that school, where stricter church attendance criteria have again resulted in misunderstandings and tragedies of families becoming split, even when children live within a few hundred yards of the school." Mr Thurnham also discussed with Rev Shepherd the appeals procedure for disappointed parents.

He said: "There are increasing numbers of parents appealing.

"These appeals are very important. Canon Slade operates on a points system which can be very cruel.

"The appeal committee allows all circumstances to be taken into account."

Mr Thurnham is also urging Turton School to change its admission policy. He said: "I am asking the school to review its policy of giving absolute priority to the Lancashire Country Council areas of Edgworth, Chapeltown and Belmont. This is done under a historic agreement which now unfairly excludes children living in areas of North Bolton from gaining admission to Turton School.

"It has also been pointed out to me that if Turton School was to gain grant maintained status it would have greater control over its admissions policy and this current situation would no longer be the case."

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