THERE are two ways of looking at the fact that parents appealing against school place decisions in Lancashire are twice as likely to win as counterparts elsewhere in the country.

You could say that the appeals system works well, recognises strongly made cases and is not afraid to right wrongs.

Or you could say that the number of appeal victories - and the fact that more people lodge them in the first place than elsewhere in the country - show that too many incorrect decisions are being made to start with.

Schooling is a vitally important matter to every parent and the whole stressful business of the appeals process is not embarked upon lightly.

Such steps aren't taken before a lot of anger and upset has been caused within families.

It's likely that even if they win, and certainly if they don't, parents will also be alienated from the process like those in Burnley who last year set up a DIY primary school in protest at their children not getting their preferred choices.

In reality our school selection system will never enable every parent to have their first choice school.

But a lot more can be done by education officials to lessen the aggravation we see year after year.