Some pupils still face 60-mile round trip to school

Some parents say their children are still facing a round trip to school of nearly 60 miles (96km) despite more secondary places being introduced to meet demand.

Kent County Council (KCC) said 56 families from the Isle of Sheppey had to be allocated schools off the island as there were not enough places available when they were announced on 3 March.

It has since opened up 60 more spaces for year seven pupils to try to bridge the gap but some families on Sheppey still haven't been offered a place on the island.

A KCC spokesperson said the local authority understood and sympathised with the concerns of a "small group" of parents.

It added more families want their children educated on the island than ever before due to a change of school providers.

"School transport will be provided for children and young people who meet the statutory criteria," they added.

"Parents can appeal if they think the law has not been correctly applied."

Some parents previously told a Sheppey councillor their children "simply haven't slept" since school places were allocated, with some allocated schools as far away as Maidstone or Faversham.

Stevie Goodwin, from Warden Bay, has a daughter who was offered a school place in Faversham despite applying for the two schools on the island.

"I thought it was a mistake," he said, but called the council and was told it was the nearest school to them with places.

He said he was told his daughter would not be eligible for free travel to school in Faversham, leaving the only option being multiple buses and trains for his 11-year-old.

Mr Goodwin added: "Something needs to be done to change the criteria on how they allocate schools, especially on an island where there is only one way on and off."

After conversations and investment from the council, Leigh Academy Minster and Swale Academies Trust are opening up 30 more spaces each in year seven.

Jasmine Sellen, from Warden, was also offered a school in Faversham, which was not included in their list of choices.

She said the journey for her son would take an hour and a half and she could not afford the fares.

"We only put two school choices down as they were the only realistic choices, the only two on the island," she added.

"Me and his dad went to Leigh Academy when it was called Minster College and all his grandparents and family went there too."

She said it was "unfair" to have been offered places so far from their end of the island.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: "This government is introducing new legislation that will require councils and schools to work together to make sure every family can have access to a good local school."

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