Romesh Ranganathan loses son's school place appeal
Image caption,
Romesh Ranganathan said he had emailed the council six times after his son's school placement
Author, Stuart Maisner Role, BBC News, South East
1 hour ago
The comedian and TV presenter Romesh Ranganathan has said his appeal to get his youngest son into one of his preferred choices of secondary schools has been turned down.
Mr Ranganathan said he had "accepted the decision" but commented that "the system wasn't working".
Speaking in a video on Instagram the TV personality said "lots of people in the same situation" had contacted him and that the situation was "particularly bad for people with special needs and disabilities".
A spokesperson for West Sussex County Council (WSCC) said: "We understand the disappointment of parents who are not offered a place at a school of their preferences."
Mr Ranganathan commented that there was "no easy solution to the situation" and said his family would have to "go with an alternative".
In April the comedian said he had emailed West Sussex County Council six times after his son had been placed in a school "on the other side of town", and not at the same school as his elder two brothers.
He said at the time he had received no response and his local MP, who agreed to investigate, had been told the council "can't do anything about it".
A WSCC statement said: "We do all we can to provide young people with school places and this year we were able to offer 87% of the 9,050 secondary school applicants a place at their first choice of school, while nearly 97% were offered a place at one of their three preferences.
"Applications are considered by our admissions team on their priority according to the relevant oversubscription criteria for their preferred schools, which may include proximity of the school to home and whether other siblings attend the same school."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
17 minutes ago
- The Independent
Starmer to co-chair Ukraine meeting after call with Trump and European leaders
Sir Keir Starmer will co-chair a meeting with pro- Ukraine allies on Wednesday after a call with US President Donald Trump and European leaders about ending the war. Sir Keir will join a virtual call at midday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. They will then be joined by Mr Trump and US vice president JD Vance. Later, the Prime Minister will co-chair a Coalition of the Willing meeting to update wider partners on the day's discussions. The Coalition of the Willing is an international effort to support Ukraine towards a lasting peace, led by the UK, France and Ukraine. It is made up of 31 countries that have pledged strengthened support for Kyiv, including 27 European countries, as well as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Ahead of Wednesday's call, a Downing Street spokesperson said: 'The Prime Minister remains absolutely focused on a solution to this conflict grounded in Ukraine's national interests. 'He is determined to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, backed by robust and credible security guarantees that will deter Russia from threatening Ukraine in future.' Meanwhile, Mr Vance is set to meet US troops stationed at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Wednesday. The US Vice President will receive a briefing on the base's capabilities and deliver remarks. According to The Times, he will also meet Reform UK leader Nigel Farage for breakfast in the Cotswolds. This comes after meeting with shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick and shadow home secretary Chris Philip on Tuesday. The call between European and US leaders comes ahead of the expected meeting between Mr Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday. The two leaders are set to meet to discuss the future of the Kremlin's invasion, without the presence of Mr Zelensky. The Ukrainian President said at a news briefing on Tuesday that Mr Putin wants Ukraine to withdraw from the remaining 30% of the Donetsk region that Kyiv controls as part of a ceasefire deal. This was conveyed to him by US officials, Mr Zelensky explained. However, he reiterated that Ukraine would not withdraw from territories it controls because it is unconstitutional and would only serve as a springboard for a future Russian invasion. Mr Trump has also signalled he thinks Ukraine might need to cede territory in order to end the conflict, stating there is likely to be 'some land-swapping going on'. Speaking during a lengthy press conference on Monday, Mr Trump pledged to 'try to get back' some of Ukraine's 'oceanfront property' from Russia. He said: 'We're going to change the lines, the battle lines. Russia has occupied a big portion of Ukraine. They've occupied some very prime territory. We're going to try and get some of that territory back for Ukraine. 'They have taken largely – in real estate we call it oceanfront property. That's always the most valuable property.' A statement released by the European Union on Tuesday read: 'A just and lasting peace that brings stability and security must respect international law, including the principles of independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and that international borders must not be changed by force. 'The people of Ukraine must have the freedom to decide their future. 'The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine. 'Meaningful negotiations can only take place in the context of a ceasefire or reduction of hostilities.' In response, Mr Zelensky said on X (formerly Twitter): 'I am grateful to the leaders of Europe for their clear support for our independence, territorial integrity, and precisely such an active approach to diplomacy that can help end this war with a dignified peace. 'Indeed, We all support President Trump's determination, and together we must shape positions that will not allow Russia to deceive the world once again. 'We see that the Russian army is not preparing to end the war. On the contrary, they are making movements that indicate preparations for new offensive operations. 'In such circumstances, it is important that the unity of the world is not threatened. 'As long as they continue the war and the occupation, all of us together must maintain our pressure – the pressure of strength, the pressure of sanctions, the pressure of diplomacy.'
Daily Mail
17 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
UK trade envoy to Turkey's trip to Northern Cyprus turns into a full diplomatic row - as pressure piles on Sir Keir Starmer to sack him
A visit by the UK's Turkey trade envoy to Northern Cyprus has escalated into a diplomatic spat. The Greek Cypriot government condemned the 'unacceptable' trip by Labour's Afzal Khan, piling pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to sack him. Britain, in common with the rest of the world barring Turkey, does not recognise the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Despite this, the MP for Manchester Rusholme has this week visited the breakaway statelet to the fury of Greek Cypriots, who accused him of breaking international agreements. They regard the Turkish-controlled north as a rogue state and have called for the 30,000 troops stationed there to leave. Yesterday, anger increased over the trip, which saw Mr Khan meet the leader of Northern Cyprus in his official residence. Konstantinos Letymbiotis, a spokesman for the Nicosia government, said the visit was 'absolutely condemnable and unacceptable' as he insisted UK officials should 'respect' the state of Cyprus. He claimed Mr Khan's actions 'constitute an attempt to create false impressions and are in complete contradiction with the established position of all British governments'. Mr Letymbiotis said: 'We expect all UK officials to show respect for their country's policy as well as for the bilateral relations between Cyprus and the UK.' Cyprus has been a divided island for more than 50 years following a Turkish invasion that left hundreds dead and thousands displaced. The Tories have written to foreign minister Stephen Doughty calling for Mr Khan to be dismissed from his role, saying the trip sent a 'worrying signal'. Wendy Morton, shadow foreign affairs minister, wrote: 'This visit risks undermining the UK's credibility as a guarantor power and as an impartial interlocutor in settlement negotiations.' The Prime Minister's spokesman has said the visit was carried out in a 'personal capacity'. Ersin Tatar, the leader of Northern Cyprus, also waded into the row by criticising the 'intolerant statements and excessive attacks made by the Greek Cypriot side'. He said the visit was undertaken 'at my invitation'. Mr Khan's has also angered the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK, which represents more than 300,000 British citizens of Cypriot origin. The Foreign Office did not respond to requests for comment.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
How JD Vance's UK holiday is disrupting filming of popular Amazon series
US vice president JD Vance 's holiday in the Cotswolds has caused significant disruption, including roadblocks and heightened police presence. A no-fly zone has been activated over the area, encompassing Jeremy Clarkson 's Diddly Squat Farm, affecting the filming of ' Clarkson's Farm '. The security measures have prevented drone shots for the show's forthcoming fifth season, frustrating Jeremy Clarkson and his colleague Kaleb Cooper. Locals near the Grade II-listed manor where Vance is staying have complained about the disruption to the typically quaint Cotswolds atmosphere. The owners of the rented manor have apologised to residents for the 'circus' caused by the vice president's visit.
