Hertfordshire Parents and Children Let Down by HCC Computer Systems

Angry parents are demanding to know why the vital Internet services telling them whether their children had gained their chosen secondary school failed for most of Monday.

It was only in the late afternoon following the intervention of Lib Dem County Councillor Chris White that the problem was spotted and the service established.

Opposition Spokesperson Mark Watkin commented "This is unacceptable. The County Council should have had back-up services ready to meet this sort of emergency. Being allocated the school of your choice is second only to learning the results of the state's exams in the significance it can make to a child's life. I expect the Admissions Team to publish an apology on the County's website and in future to take the necessary steps to ensure that this never happens again."