School Admissions - not all Kent schools had correct "proximity" calculations

4.34.59pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 7th Sep 2004

Councillor Margaret Featherstone is "concerned that other families in Maidstone, or across the county, may not have been given the school place to which they are entitled."

Three sets of Maidstone parents have won their fight for their children to be admitted to Eastborough reception class after the LEA told them they lived too far away.

They all live on Vinters Park Estate, and are much closer to the school than many other children offered places for this September.

They were supported by their County Councillor, Margaret Featherstone (Maidstone North East). She represented the families at the first (member) appeal, and supported them at the final statutory appeal. Now the three children will start at their local school in September, along with their friends from their local pre school.

Margaret said: "The root of the problem lies with the new system adopted by KCC for primary admissions.

"KCC's own published criteria say that, after children with siblings at the school and those with health reasons, the children who live nearest should be offered places first. Crucially, nearness is by 'the nearest available walking route, which may include footpaths'.

"Last year, schools estimated distances themselves. This year for the first time the LEA commissioned a company to measure all distances centrally. They were warned that the computer software used did not take account of footpaths - only road distances, although the rules specify the nearest walking route.

"Schools were then sent lists of children applying for places with the distances. These were measured, very accurately, to two decimal points. Schools were then asked to adjust them. One school at least felt unable to do this.

"If you live on Vinters Park, you do not walk down the Sittingbourne Road with no foot way, you use the main footpath through the estate, clearly marked on all maps, This brings these families almost half a mile closer to the school than the LEA's road route!

"I am delighted that the Appeals Panel has now righted the injustice done to these families. However this ruling affects the whole of Kent. I am concerned that other families in Maidstone, or across the County, may not have been given the school place to which they are entitled.

"I shall be working now to see that a more satisfactory system is in place for next year."