The battle lines have been drawn between parents of young children in St. George's and Government as news emerged yesterday that Education Minister Terry Lister has decided to stand by a decision to cut an entry level class at St. George's Prep.

The decision will be appealed by affected parents and failing that a lawsuit will be launched.

Parents were outraged when they learned of Government's decision to cut one of the popular school's two entry classes and appealed to the Minister to reconsider.

And although Government decided to add a classroom at East End Primary school, a number of East End children may now have to go to schools in other parts of the Island.

“We are hugely, hugely disappointed. We've done everything so far that can be done to try to change this decision and I know that many of the parents view it as an outright refusal and we basically don't feel that we've been listened to and due consideration given to the arguments we put forward,” said parent Nick Duffy.

He said an appeal was being made, as provided for in the Education Act, and about 24 of the affected 27 parents had signed appeal documents.

“We're certainly not giving up. There is no chance of us giving up on this,” Mr. Duffy said.

If the appeal fails, he said, parents will take their case to court.

The school's PTA is launching action of its own - a petition to the Premier. They will be asking parents and all interested parties in the parish of St. George's to sign up, Mr. Duffy said

“It doesn't just affect the school - it affects everyone in St. George's who would like to exercise their right of preference.”

The parents are being represented pro bono by lawyers Mark Pettingill and Richard Horseman.

The issue could cause a split in the ranks of the Progressive Labour Party.

Government parliamentarians Jennifer Smith and Dean Foggo, both St. George's MPs have already expressed to Mr. Lister their view that both St. George's Prep and East End Primary should both have two entry level classrooms.

Chairman of the school's Board of Trustees, Garth Rothwell said he too was disappointed by the decision which had been communicated by a phone message left at the school.

“It's a disappointing result for us at St. George's Prep. I think it's particularly disappointing for the teachers who have worked so hard for good academic results especially after a lot of effort to keep the school going after Fabian,” Mr. Rothwell said. “Most important it will be a disappointment to those parents who chose St. George's Prep and they will not be sending their children to a school virtually on their doorsteps.”

He added : “It's unfortunate that the decision was taken so late by the Department of Education and I think that's something that upset the parents - that they were planning on the basis of two P1 classes and they made their decision on the wrong basis.”

The trustees of the school would be having a meeting on the issue this weekend, he said.

“The parents will do what the parents need to do.” The Parent Teacher Association are understood to be calling a meeting as well.

The school and parents had been hopeful after Mr. Lister agreed to consider their concerns last week.

“We know he was struggling with other concerns but I was hopeful that there would be two P1s,” Mr. Rothwell continued.

Mr. Lister could not be contacted for comment by Press-time last night. Last week he stressed that his responsibility was to ensure that there would be enough room to accommodate students at all levels of the schools.