Let our son go to school

Gary Cope, who lives in High Street in Haydon Wick, has behavioural problems but a very high IQ.

He went to Nyland Special School in Nythe until the summer and was due to go to St Luke's in the autumn term, but his parents believed it wasn't the right school for his needs.

They were told he might be able to get a place at Headlands but the school said it was full and now Gary and his parents have been left playing a waiting game.

Their case mirrors that of 13-year-old Tanya Lowry, featured in the Evening Advertiser on Thurs-day.

She too was told the schools nearest to her home in Stratton were full and has been trying to teach herself from books while her mother appeals for her to attend Kingsdown School, which is closest to where she lives.

Gary has been receiving four hours of home tuition a week for the last two months, but his parents sayit is not enough.

They were told that Greendown School, St Joseph's and Church-fields had places at the beginning of September all of which are a long way from their North Swindon home and have been trying to get their son into Greendown.

But so far they say they have not heard any news.

"All the schools are a long distance away but we have said Gary could go to Greendown, even though there is no direct bus route," said Gary's mother, Julie Ransom, an occupational health adviser.

"At the moment Gary has just four hours a week home tuition and I have had to battle for that. One of the criteria for this is that one of us has to be there for it so my husband Brian, who is self-employed, has been staying at home and we have lost hundreds of pounds.

"But Gary needs much more or he will slip much further behind and he also needs to mix with other children."

Andrew Bennett, spokesman for Swindon Council, said: "We are aware that the parents have applied to another mainstream school and at the moment all the correct procedures are being followed."

THE parents of an 11-year-old boy, who has been unable to get a school place, fear he is slipping further and further behind.

Gary Cope, who lives in High Street in Haydon Wick, has behavioural problems but a very high IQ.

He went to Nyland Special School in Nythe until the summer and was due to go to St Luke's in the autumn term, but his parents believed it wasn't the right school for his needs.

They were told he might be able to get a place at Headlands but the school said it was full and now Gary and his parents have been left playing a waiting game.

Their case mirrors that of 13-year-old Tanya Lowry, featured in the Evening Advertiser on Thurs-day.

She too was told the schools nearest to her home in Stratton were full and has been trying to teach herself from books while her mother appeals for her to attend Kingsdown School, which is closest to where she lives.

Gary has been receiving four hours of home tuition a week for the last two months, but his parents sayit is not enough.

They were told that Greendown School, St Joseph's and Church-fields had places at the beginning of September all of which are a long way from their North Swindon home and have been trying to get their son into Greendown.

But so far they say they have not heard any news.

"All the schools are a long distance away but we have said Gary could go to Greendown, even though there is no direct bus route," said Gary's mother, Julie Ransom, an occupational health adviser.

"At the moment Gary has just four hours a week home tuition and I have had to battle for that. One of the criteria for this is that one of us has to be there for it so my husband Brian, who is self-employed, has been staying at home and we have lost hundreds of pounds.

"But Gary needs much more or he will slip much further behind and he also needs to mix with other children."

Andrew Bennett, spokesman for Swindon Council, said: "We are aware that the parents have applied to another mainstream school and at the moment all the correct procedures are being followed."

THE parents of an 11-year-old boy, who has been unable to get a school place, fear he is slipping further and further behind.

Gary Cope, who lives in High Street in Haydon Wick, has behavioural problems but a very high IQ.

He went to Nyland Special School in Nythe until the summer and was due to go to St Luke's in the autumn term, but his parents believed it wasn't the right school for his needs.

They were told he might be able to get a place at Headlands but the school said it was full and now Gary and his parents have been left playing a waiting game.

Their case mirrors that of 13-year-old Tanya Lowry, featured in the Evening Advertiser on Thurs-day.

She too was told the schools nearest to her home in Stratton were full and has been trying to teach herself from books while her mother appeals for her to attend Kingsdown School, which is closest to where she lives.

Gary has been receiving four hours of home tuition a week for the last two months, but his parents sayit is not enough.

They were told that Greendown School, St Joseph's and Church-fields had places at the beginning of September all of which are a long way from their North Swindon home and have been trying to get their son into Greendown.

But so far they say they have not heard any news.

"All the schools are a long distance away but we have said Gary could go to Greendown, even though there is no direct bus route," said Gary's mother, Julie Ransom, an occupational health adviser.

"At the moment Gary has just four hours a week home tuition and I have had to battle for that. One of the criteria for this is that one of us has to be there for it so my husband Brian, who is self-employed, has been staying at home and we have lost hundreds of pounds.

"But Gary needs much more or he will slip much further behind and he also needs to mix with other children."

Andrew Bennett, spokesman for Swindon Council, said: "We are aware that the parents have applied to another mainstream school and at the moment all the correct procedures are being followed."