TENSION over the future of selective education in Ripon has been turned up another notch with a vote at the town hall supporting a parish poll on the issue.

The city council has already made it clear it is opposed to a survey on a topic which has split the community for years.

Parents with children at Ripon Grammar's feeder schools were the first to test the Government's procedure for communities still using the 11-plus exam last year.

The result of a formal ballot then was in favour of keeping the test, and the outcome was subsequently reinforced by Education Secretary David Blunkett when the losing side appealed.

However, parent Stanley Mackintosh, a possible Tory candidate in the county council elections in May, has come up with "a third way", which he has dubbed The Ripon System.

It involves using the results of year five SATS tests as the basis for selection for the grammar school.

On Monday night, he persuaded more than ten of the city's electorate to back his call for a local referendum on whether it should be introduced.

The result means the proposal will go to Harrogate Borough Council's returning officer, who will rule if the matter warrants a parish poll.

Despite considerable resistance from the city council, Mr Mackintosh was confident he had a case yesterday.

"The Liberal Democrats on the authority did their best to derail it, but I think they were mistaken in their arguments,'' he said.

However, the Mayor of Ripon, Councillor Paul Freeman, who is a teacher, was equally adamant it would be wrong to hold a referendum.

He said: "I've said before that it would be a waste of time and money.

"I have nothing against parish polls if there is a valid cause, but as there were no parents at the meeting, I think it can be concluded this is hardly one of them.''

"The county council is already involved in research into the alternatives for Ripon Grammar, but Mr Mackintosh appears to believe he knows better than the experts on this issue - better than County Hall and better than local headmasters."