A four-year-old boy has been told he can’t attend the same school as his two big brothers – even though it is DIRECTLY next to his house.
Little Joshua Fletcher was devastated when he found out Norristhorpe School in Liversedge, West Yorks., which is visible from his window, told him he can’t join in the new school year.
Mum Claire Fletcher has had to resort to finding another school, Crossley Field, two miles away, despite the fact their house can be seen from the school‘s playground.
Joshua now has to face the prospect of being separated from brothers Samuel, eight, and six-year-old Jacob.
Claire, 36, said: “I pretty much begged for a place for him at the appeal, but there was no give.
“I’ve been told there are hundreds of cases similar to mine – which must go to show the system is all wrong.
“Living where we do, next door to the school, it’s common sense.”
Accountants office worker Claire is now worried she will have to give up her job to make sure all three boys get to school on time, as husband Stuart, 40, often works away.
“My husband and I bought our house because it was right next door to the school we wanted our children to go to.
“Joshua is so upset – not only because it’s where his brothers are, but there is nobody he knows who is going to Crossley Fields.
“There is nobody to help me get all three boys to the two different schools.
“I start work at 8.30am and Stuart is a long-distance lorry driver and is away a lot, so he can’t help. It was awful sitting Joshua down and telling him.
“I just don’t know where to turn.”
She added: “I feel like I’m banging my head against a brick wall. It’s so frustrating because everyone I’ve spoken to has said they really want to help me but they can’t.”
Claire said the turn down came after the couple were three days late sending off the form due to being out of the country.
“It was an error on my behalf”, she added.
“I believed the application had to be sent in the January after his third birthday – I didn’t realise there was a deadline date.
“I’ve been told there were posters at the doctors surgery and at school – but I’m so busy getting the children and rushing off, I don’t have time to stop and read the board.”
A spokesperson for Kirklees Council said: “The council admissions procedure
means that places are allocated (in line with the school‘s admission criteria) to on time applications before we consider late applications.
“Unfortunately Mrs Fletcher made a late application for a school place in the reception class for her child this September.
“This means that we have not been able to offer her child a place at her preferred school – Norristhorpe Junior and Infant – as it is currently oversubscribed.”
The spokesperson added: “Mrs Fletcher’s child is currently first on the waiting list for her preferred school.
“We understand that the impact of this situation is really difficult, especially where the family has older siblings already at the school.
“Our Pupil Admissions team will continue to offer advice to the family about all the options that are available to them.”
