Julie Howard believes that St Michael's CE High School's policy of admitting pupils on the basis of how often they attend church is unfair.

The mum-of-two, who lives off Letchworth Drive, says the result is she has to send her children, aged 14 and 10, to different schools.

Her son Jack is already a pupil at St Michael's, however, his younger sister Megan did not get into the school because of her church attendance and will attend Southlands on the other side of town instead.

Governors at St Michael's claim the rule was introduced because of over-subscription to the Astley Road school, which meant that children who have a regular church were given preference over those who don't.

Mrs Howard, 39, who stressed she has no problem with Southlands, said: "When we went to the parents evening at St Michael's we were told that everybody who has already got a sibling at the school would get a place.

"I think that's more important than looking at children's church attendance - St Michael's is the only school in Chorley that has now got this policy and it's quite unfair because it splits up siblings.

"Like most parents, I would like to see my children go to the same school and I think St Michael's should get rid of this admissions policy.

"I don't understand the logic behind it, they can go down that route if they want to but it's causing problems for families like ours.

"I've not heard of any other families in the area who have been forced to send their children to different schools.

"My family has gone to St Michael's for generations and my daughter is the first one for a very long time who hasn't been admitted."

In April this year, vicar at Brindle St James's Parish Church Rev Mark Cannon criticised the high school's policy.

Rev Cannon said the recently introduced policy had meant he had seen an increase in the congregation but claimed it was ridiculous and had been forced on churches.

Chris Bagguley, headteacher at St Michael's High School, said: "St Michael's has become a very popular school and this year the number of applications was far in excess of the places available.

"When this occurs the admissions criteria are applied to ensure that all applications are treated fairly.

"The admissions criteria are set out in the admissions policy. They are decided each year by the governing body.

"Approximately half of the governors are parents of pupils in the school.

"As a Church of England High school priority is given to pupils who themselves or their parents attend church services of various agreed denominations. This has always been the case.

"The criteria have changed very little over the past twenty years.
"Unfortunately when the number of applications exceeds the number of places available parents and pupils will be disappointed.

"We are very sorry that we cannot give places to all pupils who want to come to St Michael's. Parents who are not allocated a place have the right to take their case to an independent appeals panel.

"Approximately thirty appeal hearings were held this year."

What do you think? Email martin.steinmetz@lep.co.uk