Parents teach kids at home

All the children, aged between seven and eight, are currently at Heene First School and were promised places at Thomas A'Becket Middle, say their parents.

But they have now been told the school is oversubscribed and the closest one with spaces is Downsbrook. The group of distraught parents say they can't get there and will be forced to keep their children at home instead.

Marnie Service, who has an eight-year- old son called Trent, said: "When our children started at Heene First School it was the accepted feeder to Thomas A'Becket Middle School. It is so accepted that children at the school go on to Thomas A'Becket that a lot of the children do not even realise there are different middle schools."

Marnie said that all of the affected parents live in the southern catchment area for the school, either on the seafront or in the town centre.

She is now selling her flat to move closer to the school.

"My flat is on the market and as soon as I exchange contracts on my new place in Tarring, the school has said it will move me up the waiting list. Until Trent can go to Thomas A'Becket, I am keeping him at home and teaching him myself.

"Downsbrook is in East Worthing and the problems that these parents face is that we cannot physically get the kids to school in East Worthing."

Tracey Humphrey, whose eight-year-old son Jordan goes to the school, has been told she can walk to Downsbrook but she also has a five-year-old daughter, Sophie, at Heene.

"How can I expect my daughter to walk for an hour before she has to go to school herself while I take Jordan to Downsbrook? A lot of parents are considering teaching their kids at home and that is something we have been forced to consider because of what has happened."

Emma Wyrill, whose eight-year-old son is called Joe, said: "We are all talking about teaching children at home but I wouldn't have a clue where to start. I would have to employ somebody.

"It's wrong that you have to fight to get you children into these schools, especially when it was promised. I am just praying for a miracle."