THE decision not to extend the catchment area of one of Newport's most popular schools is being labelled a "double standard".

Newport council's scrutiny forum for young people's services has recommended not to move Glasllwch Primary School from the Duffryn High School catchment into Bassaleg School's catchment area.

At the same time councillors voted for the village of Christchurch to be included in the catchment area for Caerleon Comprehensive, rather than Hartridge High.

Now Allt-Yr-Yn councillor David Fouweather says he is to appeal against the move.

He said: "I'm very disappointed by the decision not to place Glasllwch into the Bassaleg catchment. If they can do it for Christchurch, then they can do it for Glasllwch. It's a double standard."

Pupils at Glasllwch currently go on to attend Bassaleg School only if they live within set boundaries.

But parents, backed by Councillor Fouweather, argue that all the school's pupils should be allowed to move on to Bassaleg.

Councillor Fouweather said: "The Glasllwch children can walk to Bassaleg from their homes, but they can't walk to Duffryn." Council education chiefs have calculated that moving Glasllwch into the Bassaleg catchment would see pupil numbers increase by an average of 14 a year.

With 1,735 pupils, Bassaleg School is currently at capacity, and council education chiefs say extending the catchment area would increase pressure on the school.

But the forum agreed to place Christchurch into the Caerleon Comprehensive catchment area despite the fact it too is at capacity, because it deemed the situation an "anomaly which needs to be addressed".

Councillor Fouweather said: "It's all about parental choice. I'm in favour of extending schools to cope with their popularity."

A spokesman for Newport council said: "Bassaleg School is above capacity.

"The proposal for Glasllwch Primary School to become a part of the catchment area would add unreasonably to the pressure on the capacity. "Christchurch lies on the border of St Julian's and Caerleon and its catchment area position is an anomaly inherited from the former Gwent authority.

"Given the very small number of pupils involved it is proposed that this change can be made without detriment to education of pupils in the school."