Kingston Council says the sheer number of parents of primary school children who moved to the borough during the summer is to blame for a lack of school places.

There are still 11 primary school children who still do not have anywhere to go a month into term after the council received more than 300 applications.

A council spokesman said: “The council has received an unprecedented number of primary school applications from families with school-aged children who have moved into the area during the school summer holidays.

“The council is working very closely with schools to ensure that we are able to offer every school-aged child a place. We are confident that these children will be offered a place shortly.”

Sarah Greaves, partner at Kingston estate agents Saxon Kings, said she was aware of the influx.

She said: “I think the reason people are moving here is because the schools are so highly sought after.

“We have definitely had a lot more families moving to the area this summer rather than professionals.”

Mother-of-four Tanya Hall’s daughter Alice, five, from Berrylands Road, was offered a place at King’s Oak in New Malden, which she turned down, which she turned down because it was too far from their home. 

She said: “I am very disappointed. I had no idea there would be no place in the whole borough of Kingston. 

“She has been at home. She was very bored.

“I was in Kingston dealing with the local education authority, asking what could I do?

“They were totally unhelpful saying ‘you just need to wait’. There were no suggestions. I just kept waiting.”

Mrs Hall eventually enrolled Alice in to year one at a school in Long Ditton.

- This article was amended to make clearer when Mrs Hall was offered her school place

Have you been left without a place? Call the newsdesk on 020 8744 4288 or email newsdesk@surreycomet.co.uk.

 

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