Dismay after Pagham '˜left without a school'

PARENTS in Pagham are campaigning to send their children to their nearest school.

A dozen mums and dads have been denied the chance for their sons and daughters to join Rose Green Infant School this September.

A similar number are also believed to be affected in September 2013.

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They are being told their children will have to travel past the school in Hawkins Close to go to Nyewood C of E Infant School in Bognor Regis.

Jo Brennen, 41, will have the furthest to travel to an alternative school if her youngest daughter, Anya Dickinson, three in late August, fails to get into Rose Green infants in September next year

Their home in Harbour Road is 3.75 miles from Nyewood infants and her oldest daughter will move from Rose Green infants to juniors this September to remove a sibling link to the infants.

“What this decision to exclude us from the catchment area has effectively done is to leave Pagham village without a local school,” she said.

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“We don’t think the admission criteria for the school has been applied reasonably or fairly.

“I know the county council operates special criteria for the Shoreham Beach school to ensure families there can get their children accepted.

“Why isn’t that principle being used for Pagham? Families from the Gossamer Lane end of the Rose Green infants’ catchment area have been accepted into it when they are only a mile from Nyewood infants.

“But we have been excluded when we live further away from Nyewood infants.”

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Dawn Salter, 42, of Webb Close, is in the same position with her youngest child, Grace Salter, three.

Her seven-year-old son is due to go from Rose Green infants to juniors this September.

She said: “The logistical task which is going to be set for parents with a child in Rose Green junior and another in Nyewood infants is of huge concern.

“It’s too far for a child of five to walk from Webb Close to Nyewood infants. Are we going to be paid mileage to take them there?

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“Are they going to be given a bus pass? Or is the county council going to lay on a minibus for our children?

“All that is going to add to the traffic at the already congested Rose Green and it just does not make sense.

“Familes are not going to move here at all if this situation is going to arise year in and year out.”

The families are meeting their county councillor, Michael Coleman, and MP Nick Gibb to further their case.

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Rose Green Infant School takes in 90 children annually. It is believed 130 applications were made for admissions this September from families inside and outside the catchment area.

A county council spokesman said: “We have not made any changes to the Rose Green catchment area.

“The situation is that we had a large number of children in the catchment whose parents stated a preference for Rose Green Infant School.

“Twelve living there did not get a place at the school.

“We were aware of the larger group in this area and Bognor, and extra places were added to Nyewood Infants School, Edward Bryant and St Mary’s in Bognor.

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“Many of the parents who did not get a place at Rose Green infants secured a place at Nyewood C of E Infant School which is the next nearest alternative for them and within a reasonable distance.

“Most of these parents live in Pagham, which means parents going past Rose Green Infant School.”

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