PARENTS in Ingleby Barwick are protesting over plans to change school catchment areas - which they claim will give children in some parts of the town more choice than others.

About 50 parents attended a public meeting at Barleyfields Primary School in the town last night (Monday, January 26) to learn more about Stockton Borough Council's plans.

The changes are due to come into effect in 2016 and will give priority at Egglescliffe School to children from the villages of Carlton, Stillington, Long Newton and Elton, many of whom last year chose to attend the new Ingleby Manor Free School.

Children from from The Rings and Broom Hill areas of Ingleby - currently in the catchment area for the oversubscribed Egglescliffe School - would get less of a chance of getting in than those in the villages. They are also outside the catchment for Conyers, Yarm and All Saints in Ingleby and instead would have to apply for Ingleby Manor.

Louise Baldock, Labour's Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Stockton South, who lives in Ingleby Barwick, said parents had been angry and frustrated at the public meeting.

"Many parents said they are not fighting to get their children into Egglescliffe in particular but that they did not want their families to be the only ones on the estate with a limited choice," she said.

"I will be making it clear to the council that no changes should be considered until borough-wide school boundary reviews take place (as they must) in a couple of years time."

Stockton South MP James Wharton said the "unfair" plans had not been well publicised and parts of Ingleby had no catchment area.

But Ann McCoy, Stockton Council's Cabinet Member for Children said this was not accurate.

"Under the proposals these areas would be within zone for Ingleby Manor Free School and St Patrick's RC School," she said.

"They would also remain in the zone for Egglescliffe School and therefore allocated a place before applicants who live outside of the zone."

She said the consultation on planned changes had been well publicised and that the council was happy to hold more meetings before the consultation deadline of February 16. For more information visit www.stockton.gov.uk/stocktoncouncil/consultations/currentconsultations/schooladmissionconsultation/