School places farce hits twins

HIGH-ACHIEVING twins from Edenbridge have been left in floods of tears after missing out on all four grammar schools they opted for.

Despite sailing through their 11-Plus exams, Isobel and Milly Money, 10, have not been given a grammar school place and have instead won places at the non-selective Skinners' Kent Academy.

Parents Stuart and Liz, of Goodwin Close, have slammed Kent County Council for isolating children from Edenbridge who want to attend top Kent schools.

Mrs Money said: "After doing all this hard work, to be given not a grammar school or any school of our choice is really upsetting. They were the only two in the class at Sundridge and Brasted CE Primary School who passed the 11-Plus.

"We have said we are not accepting it, we are not sending them there. Weald is our closest grammar school."

During the application process the girls listed Weald Of Kent Grammar School as their top choice, followed by three other local grammars as back-up options.

But not only is the Skinners' Kent Academy, in Tunbridge Wells, not the school the family hoped for, it is also much further away, leaving the girls with a journey involving two trains each way.

The couple said their daughters cried when they found out the news.

Isobel said: "I was really upset, it is quite frustrating because you have so much work to do, the exams were so difficult."

They have taken their concerns to Kent county councillor Peter Lake, who described their situation as "horrendous".

He said: "When I meet parents and children like this who have worked their socks off only to find they have got a kick in the teeth, I am determined to support them."

Cllr Lake added he wanted other families to contact him if they found themselves in similar position.

"I need to hear from other parents who are worried about the procedure and failed to get their child into their first-choice school.

"I don't think the authority will tell me who they are because I am out to get them.

"This is horrendous."

Sarah Hohler, KCC cabinet member for children, families and education, said: "It is an enormous task to find school places for more than 17,000 children.

"Kent has a wide variety of schools and because many of our schools are incredibly popular, we receive many more applications than there are places available.

"For those parents who have not been offered the school they hoped for we would urge them to visit the school they have been offered, speak to the teachers and get a feel for that school.

"If the parents are still not happy they can join the waiting lists for their preferred schools and they can also appeal."

School admissions special: see page 4