A DECISION to send twins to different primary schools has been condemned as cruel by campaigners.

The children, from Darlington, were to be separated for the first time in their lives before an 11th-hour U-turn by the borough council.

The Northern Echo understands that the twins, who have not been identified, faced the prospect of starting school apart this September until a place at their first choice, High Coniscliffe Primary School, became available after admissions for the year had been set.

Keith Reed, chief executive of the Twins and Multiple Birth Association, called for the Government and councils to change their admissions policies to keep siblings together at school. “To then tear them apart from each other is cruel,” he said.

Children’s Minister Ed Balls has vowed to review the admissions policies after a rise in the number of controversial rulings on twins. The issue has become more prevalent in recent years after an increase in the number of multiple births because of increased use of IVF treatment.

A spokeswoman for Darlington Borough Council confirmed that the twins were provisionally allocated places at separate schools.

“We did have a situation where twins starting school in September had been offered places at two different primary schools,” she said.

“This was in line with local and national admissions legislation and was agreed with their parents. Their parents decided to accept the available place at their preferred school for one of the twins and wait and see if another place became available for the other twin.

“When another child due to start at that school refused their place, it was offered to the second twin. This means both twins will attend their parents’ preferred primary school from September.”

Heather Scott, leader of Darlington’s Conservative opposition, said: “Morally, twins should be allowed to go to the same school.

“The problem with the admissions policy as it stands now is there are very strict numbers to adhere to. There ought to be some kind of flexibility in situations like this.”

Chris McEwan, the ruling Labour group’s children and young people spokesman, said: “Clearly twins, or triplets for that matter, in the primary phase need to be going to the same school – that is plain common sense.”