WE had a huge response to last week’s front page story regarding Widnes school Wade Deacon’s plans to change its catchment zone system. Here are just some of your comments:

IF you are housed in Halton you should be schooled in Halton.

If a poor child who lives on the Weates estate misses the catchment area for Wade Deacon, are they then expected to travel the extra distance to top up numbers at Ormiston Academy?

Can you imagine sending your 11-year-old off on an hour-long bus to reach a school where they have very few friends? Great start to their education.

I was under the impression with the closure of Fairfield that Wade Deacon with its vast expansion would accommodate substantially more children. So someone needs to step in soon and put parents’ minds at ease as to which children are more than likely to get in, sooner rather than later.

Claire Andrews

OH the joys of academies. For all those who thought this was the next best thing, you will see this is the thin end of the wedge.

My kids go to Bankfield, or OCA as it is now. I fought against the change to academy status for reasons such as this. The school does not have to give priority to pupils from Widnes and can pick and choose as the head/principal sees fit. They have full control of everything. How long before they charge a fee to attend?

Ian Lynch

I FEEL really sorry for those parents who will be affected.

Two of my sister’s children have attended this school and their younger sister is due to be starting high school in 2016. I am now concerned as to whether or not she will able to attend this school just because of where she lives.

Joanna Speakman

SURELY when they merged with Fairfield they had to expand their catchment area to accommodate the Fairfield catchment policy? They are building more houses in Widnes but no more schools; the primary schools are full to capacity as well.

They may well have had this policy a long time but surely this was before all the thousands of new houses were built. Something has to be done about this, it’s an outrage.

Jean and Glynn Taylor

RIDICULOUS. Next they’ll be looking at the levels and putting kids who need extra support out.

Let’s face it, all they’re interested in is exam results. That’s academies for you! Worst thing that’s happened to education. Remember the opting-out system — that was a whitewash too.

Karen Hughes