[Sundae]

In defence, any school where pupils come in from a different catchment area has the potential to annoy residents. Mostly it is inconsiderate parents, with a little NIMBYism from the residents.

When I went to Grammar school (ages 12-18, exam passed to attend) the local community complained about us non-stop. In those days parents rarely dropped their children off by car but they complained about the buses, the coaches, the amount of children crossing the road - you name it. We were on the same site as the College (16-18) which probably didn't help.

My sister's children both went to the same school (not above) across town - it was her local Catholic school, but again with the complaints. I picked the kids up with her a handful of times when I was visiting and the parking of the parents took my breath away. We'd parked streets away (my niece & nephew have never been afraid of walking) but some were up on curbs, blocking driveways, kids being allowed to cut across gardens - way to piss off the natives!

Anyway, niece is now in her second year at my Grammar. Whaddya know - the site is complete traffic gridlock and the school is hated mre than ever. Why? Because parents now won't let their children take 10-12 mile bus rides, but amend their working hours and drop them off. And Upper VIth formers now have their own cars as soon as they hit 17 and drive in.

Can't remember where I was going with this! But if adults behaved with a bit more respect then children would learn it and schools might integrate into their environs more easily.