More than 150 parents turned out to express their views about education in Borehamwood at the first public meeting arranged by a new pressure group.

CHOICE (Children Have Only 1 Chance at Education), formed by parents campaigning for an end to the three-tier system in the town, held the meeting, which was attended by head teachers, Hertsmere MP James Clappison and county councillors, at Summerswood School in Furzehill Road on Friday.

Sue Gordon, one of the founding members, said CHOICE was now starting to be taken seriously by the education authority, which has invited the group to get involved in planning the future of Borehamwood's schools.

She said: "Everyone at the meeting was concerned about standards in schools and many parents wanted to raise worries about secondary transfer changes. Everyone agreed, including councillors and the MP, that the uncertainty of the situation has to be looked at."

Yesterday CHOICE was due to hand in a petition of parents' signatures demanding change in Borehamwood to county council leaders at County Hall in Hertford.

Any parents interested in joining CHOICE or who would like to express their views should write to CHOICE at 16 Percheron Road, Borehamwood, WD6 2SR. Alternatively they are urged to write to Ray Shostak, Director of Education, County Hall, Hertford, SG13 8DF.

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