SUCCESSFUL parental appeals for secondary places could lead to the unplanned expansion of some Kent schools while leaving others with empty desks, say opposition parties at County Hall.

Kent County Council is expected to face an increase in parental appeals this year after the number of pupils who missed out on their first choice school rose, with some 4,800 losing out.

Parents have until March 25 to appeal and it is likely KCC will see an increase in the 1,900 who did so last year.

Both Labour and Liberal Democrat county councillors are concerned about the repercussions if large numbers of appeals are upheld for more popular schools. Appeals are heard by independent panels although they can be administered by the county council.

Labour schools spokeswoman Cllr Christine Angell said: "Nationally, secondary school appeals have dropped year-on-year for five years but the proportion of successful appeals has have gone up.

Knock-on effect

"The effect of this in Kent may mean expanding numbers in some schools, which inevitably leaves others with vacancies.

"This will have a knock-on effect to the education of children, both where schools pack children to the gunnels and where there are pupil vacancies."

Liberal Democrat spokesman Cllr Martin Vye echoed: "In real terms, the numbers getting their first choice preference has gone down.

Artificial expansion

"This is going to add to the volume of appeals and what worries me is how certain schools will respond. It could open the door to the artificial expansion of schools."

While KCC downplayed the concerns, it acknowledged it had no control over what could happen.

Cllr Mark Dance (Con) said: "It is an independent system and is out of our hands. We are now at a peak in terms of secondary numbers and I expect a much easier ride for schools next year."