St. George?s Prep parents stormed to victory yesterday when the decision to axe the second Primary One stream at St. George?s Prep was reversed.

After almost a full day of battle against the Ministry of Education at a hearing held yesterday, lawyer Richard Horseman, who has conducted the entire appeal pro bono, said the Appeals Committee ?essentially said they supported the appeal?.

?They said that the scheduled second Primary One stream should remain open for the 2004-2005 education year in accordance with the Education Act,? he said.

The Committee did not give its full reasons for the decision, he added: ?They will do so in writing later.?

Twenty-five families have been battling the Ministry of Education decision to cut the second stream since early March.

Though Education Minister Terry Lister has maintained that the move was best for the overall education system, adding it would alleviate congestion in public schools in years down the road, parents violently disagreed.

They applauded Mr. Lister?s decision to open a second stream at East End Primary, but maintained the East End could support a second stream at the highly popular St. George?s Prep also. The school has had two Primary One streams for the past several years.

Citing the Education Act, the parents said it came down to their right to send their child to the school of their choice in their neighbourhood.

?We are absolutely delighted,? parent spokesperson Nick Duffy said yesterday. ?It?s been a long haul.

?This is a victory on three different levels. It?s a victory for the 25 families. We all realise that only 15 or 18 of our children are going to get in. We knew that from the beginning. But we won our point.

?It?s also a victory for the school, which is hugely supported in the community of St. George?s?. They have been vindicated. The support of the parents is there.

?Thirdly, it?s a victory for people in the public education system. One point made very early on, was that it?s our system, not the Ministry?s. They were not listening to the public. Now the Appeals Board is saying, ?You have to.?

?We owe a huge thank you to Richard Horseman and Wakefield Quin, who conducted the entire appeal for free. Richard fought the good fight. They felt it was a just cause.

?In fairness, there?s no way we could have survived it if we hadn?t had Richard there. I sing his praises loudly.? Education Minister Terry Lister did not return calls seeking comment last night.