A MUM has hit out at Bromsgrove's education system after her daughter was refused a place at a nearby school.

Ellie Pheysey, of Farmers Road, Stoke Heath, wanted her nine-year-old, Chase, to attend Aston Fields Middle School in September.

But because there was so much demand for places at the Drummond Road site she was refused, even though she lives in the school's catchment area.

Chase currently attends Sidemoor First. Her parents were on Bromsgrove District Council's first time buyers waiting list when she was due to start nursery. At the time they didn't know if they would be offered a house at Stoke Heath or Sidemoor. They got her a place at a Sidemoor nursery, but were then offered a home in Stoke Heath.

Ellie filled in a preferred middle schools list with Aston Fields at the top. But Worcestershire County Council said there were not enough places. The parents appealed against the decision, but lost the case.

"It seems lots of houses have been built in the south of Bromsgrove, but no provision had been made for schools," she said.

"I have lived in the town all my life so it seems unfair that I can't get my daughter into the school near our home. We have now managed to get Chase into St John's, which is a great school and I'm really happy about that, but Aston Fields would have been ideal as it is closer to home."

Worcestershire County Council policy officer (schools), Alison Cartwright, said the authority had an admissions and transfers policy which offered parents the chance to state their preference and which also set out the criteria for determining which children could be offered a place.

In 2004 more than 94 per cent of parents were offered a place at their preferred school.

"We are aware of the pressure on places in Bromsgrove and have been looking at what measures could be taken," she said.

"But there are enough places overall for Bromsgrove children within the town and it would not be sensible to create permanent extra space for what can be temporary problems."

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