THE local education authority, rapped by the ombudsman last year for the way it conducted appeals for Skipton's two grammar schools, faces another inquiry.

At least one parent is consulting the ombudsman on the grounds that it has failed to act on a letter received from the ombudsman's office.

In October, before this year's appeal panels, the ombudsman wrote to Jeremy Walker, chief executive of North Yorkshire County Council, advising him to provide parents in advance with details of evidence it refers to about the merits of coaching.

"The code of practice recommends that documents which will be put to the (appeal) panel are sent to parents seven days before the appeal hearings," said the ombudsman. "Although the research papers may not actually have been given to the panel this year (ie 2000), there was frequent referral to them by LEA representatives during appeals.

"I consider that this was not in keeping with the spirit of the code of practice, especially where some parents had raised the issue of coaching in writing before their appeals."

One parent is pursuing a complaint to the ombudsman on the grounds that the local education authority this year again countered parents' arguments in selection appeals by referring to "research" and "evidence" but failed to provide details.

The parent told the Herald: "They kept referring to this research and I kept asking to see it. They never provided it, they just kept insisting it was correct.

"I suspect it's so old, or so useless that they're afraid because there's far more evidence to show that firstly the tests are unfair and secondly that coaching is ensuring that it's not the brightest but the richest kids who are going to grammar schools."

A spokesman for the LEA said: "The LEA has given an undertaking that it will look into this question of providing this evidence as a matter of urgency in line with the ombudsman's comments."

Parents who think they too may have a case to put to the Ombudsman are asked to write to PO Box 7 at the Craven Herald.