I AM writing, as a parent of a junior school child and a Swindonian, to express my utter and total disgust with the education system in this town and the Labour politicians who have dominated it for far too long.

I am one of 100 upset and aggrieved parents who learned recently that their child had not been accepted at Bradon Forest School, Purton.

I have not moved house and my youngest son had hoped to follow in the footsteps of his older brother and join his next door neighbours and mates already at Bradon.

However we have all been told that Bradon is oversubscribed. We have all been offered Greendown, Hreod Parkway or Churchfields.

However, we already know that Greendown is full. I along with other parents have been told by the headmaster of Bradon that last year some 65 pupils were unsuccessful in getting into the school.

Bradon was then approached by Swindon Council and offered funds to set up an extra class. The request was facilitated by Bradon but to this date not a penny in funding has been forthcoming from Swindon.

I have also been told that Bradon would be prepared to set up a further class this year if funding was guaranteed, but based on last year's experience Bradon would like to see the colour of the money first.

I understand that further funding may be on the way but that it will be used to create extra classes at Greendown, even though other infrastructure such as dining areas, sports halls, sports fields etc, are all overstretched.

Recently the Adver reported that the Western expansion was 25 years old and was the size of Salisbury. I wonder how many comprehensives there are in Salisbury. I also wonder how many sports fields/sports halls there are in Salisbury.

I further wonder where all of the new pupils either currently living or moving into the Meads area will get their comprehensive education given that the single new one is not planned until 2005-2006. By 2006 I envisage the western expansion of the Meads being double the size of Salisbury with just two comprehensives and no playing fields.

It is a disgrace that Swindon not only has a poor Ofsted record but that it is becoming impossible to actually get your child into school.

D SMITH

The Bramptons

Swindon