It does not matter which individual or pressure group writes the most letters, the longest letter or the most eloquent letter on the future of Borehamwood schools to these pages.

What does matter is that every parent in Borehamwood takes an active role in Hertfordshire County Council's consultation process so there can be no grumbling about "vocal minorities" stealing the day.

A county spokesman this week assured parents that the proposals on the table -- for a return to a two-tier system, with a single, super secondary -- are far from a fait accompli.

But unless significantly more parents than the 558 who answered the Borehamwood Challenge get involved, it is certain that what are now only proposals will soon become reality.

There are 4,361 children in Borehamwood schools this year and, assuming that each family has 2.4 children, that means the parents of only 1,339 children responded.

Every parent should receive a county council information sheet before half term and undoubtedly this will help them get involved in the debate.

But parents must bear in mind that serious allegations have been made by some education professionals about county bosses' motives for change -- and view the arguments and statistics with a healthy scepticism.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.