THE news that Blackburn with Darwen has the second highest appeal rate for school places in the country is very concerning.

It illustrates that parents do not have faith in all of the borough’s school, as three in particular are being inundated with applications.

And Tauheedul Islam Girls High School, St Bede’s RC High School and Pleckgate High are predictably the schools which then face the majority of the appeals.

All of this increases the stress on parents who rightly want the best for their children.

And hearing 499 appeals is no doubt a costly and time-consuming process.

Down the road Lancashire County Council schools for Hyndburn, Ribble Vally, Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, do not see anywhere near as many appeals.

Council bosses believe the Building Schools for Future scheme, which will see the Blackburn with Darwen’s schools rebuilt or redeveloped, will improve the standard across the board.

They believe applications will then be spread evenly across the board, cutting the number of appeals.

But, as reported last week, there are concerns the scheme could be hit by the Government cuts.

Therefore the council cannot wait, and needs to get on top of this problem straight away.