SIR, — I write as a Harpenden parent whose child has just had the fortune to be allocated a place at a Harpenden secondary school. I cannot even begin to imagine the misery that parents and their children in Wheathampstead and surrounding areas are going

SIR, - I write as a Harpenden parent whose child has just had the fortune to be allocated a place at a Harpenden secondary school. I cannot even begin to imagine the misery that parents and their children in Wheathampstead and surrounding areas are going through having not been allocated even one of their three secondary school preferences (Herts Advertiser, March 6). This is despite the fact that in most cases families will have listed their three nearest secondary schools.

When Wheathampstead School, where I received an excellent education, was closed some years ago, the village was assured that children would be allocated one of their nearest schools - in most cases either Sandringham or Sir John Lawes. This is quite clearly not the case. The allocation rules mean that Wheathampstead children have slowly but surely been squeezed out by St Albans and Harpenden children who live closer to these schools. It is a disgraceful state of affairs and one that Herts County Council must address as a matter of urgency.

ALISON FELTON,

Rothamsted Avenue, Harpenden.