The Hertfordshire County Council opposition spokesman for education and children's matters has thrown his weight behind a campaign to abolish the South West Herts Schools Admissions Consortium.
Mark Watkin, who is also a Liberal Democrat councillor for Nascot in Watford, said he opposes the admissions tests the seven schools in the consortium use as part of their application process.
Mark Watkin
The petition, which has nearly 500 signatures, was started by Watford mum Carol Harris who thinks the tests put too much pressure on children and means fewer places go to local pupils.
Mr Watkin said: "I have always been strongly opposed to these exams. It is effectively an 11+ exam, but without the same controls in place.
"And the schools that do not have the test sweep up the children that are left. There's no logic to it."
The petition can be found here https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/abolish-the-south-west-herts-admissions-consortium
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