MORE parents than ever are fighting to get children into popular schools by appealing when their first-choice applications are turned down, latest government figures reveal.
Announcing a 12 per cent rise in the total number of appeals lodged for all primary and secondaries, education miister Estelle Morris said a new, fairer appeals system will be in place from September 2000. The number of secondary appeals rose from 46,100 in 1997-1998 to 53,700 in 1998-1999 - a rise of more than 15 per cent. The number of successful petitions also rose from 10,800 to 12,600.
