SILSDEN parents whose children were refused places at the town’s infant school have learned the outcome of their appeals.

Louise Armstrong this week heard that her four-year-old son Will was one of two children to be given a place at Aire View School.

But fellow Silsden woman Jane Hitchcock was told her daughter Sylvie was among five children whose appeals were thrown out.

The parents last week met separately with Bradford Council’s review panel following the refusal of their original applications.

They were not given reasons why their respective appeals had been accepted or refused.

In their original applications the parents had assumed their children would get into Aire View because their older siblings were already at the school, and would this September move up to nearby Hothfield Junior School.

In most parts of Bradford district there is only one school for four to 11-year-olds, and the ‘sibling rule’ means children are automatically accepted if they have older brothers and sisters already at the school.

Instead the Silsden youngsters were offered places several miles away at Riddlesden St Mary’s Primary School, which would involve at least four bus rides each day.

Louise Armstrong this week said she had no idea why Will was accepted and other children were refused.

She said: “I think they looked at each case on its own merits. I said I couldn’t be in two places at once – I have two girls at Hothfield School and I have no transport.

“It’s 40 minutes’ walk to the train station, four minutes on the train, then another 25 minutes’ walk to Riddlesden. I have five kids in tow, and one is only two years old.”

Jane Hitchcock said she had found a place for Sylvie at Bradleys Both CP School, but still faced the problem of getting her children to different schools at the same time.

She said: “I’ve spoken to both schools and they are sympathetic to the situation. At least I know my daughter is settled and knows where she is going. I want to concentrate on that.”

Silsden councillor Adrian Naylor, who supported the Silsden parents’ appeals, said there were plans for Silsden to get a new primary school covering all ages.

He added: “We haven’t got to that stage yet, so some arcane rule is stopping what is common sense. Children are suffering for the bureaucratic process.

“The government should provide money to build a new school as soon as possible.”