WOODFORD GRN: Blunder could cost boy his first year at school

3:32pm Monday 30th June 2008

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A FOUR-year old boy may miss out on his first year of education after the council wrongly calculated the distance between his house and the two closest primary schools.

Janet Oliver and partner Dominic Nangle, from Glebe Avenue in Woodford Green, are furious that their son Ben could be denied a place at either Woodford Wells or Churchfields schools after a council computer placed the family outside the designated catchment areas.

The family claim the geographical mapping system used by the council to calculate walking distances to the schools is flawed, after it ignored an unmarked footpath cutting through the middle of Woodford Green - which the family would have used to shorten their journey.

The computerised system instead calculated a much longer route around the edge of the green, which left them way outside the schools' admission zones.

The family contested the decision by using an online tracking pedometer to calculate the distances for themselves, and found they were safely inside the catchment area for both schools.

Mr Nangle said: "While the council admits that the footpath should be looked at, they are refusing to take it into account for this year because it's not on their system.

"That's really no good for Ben and we are furious that he may have to go to a school outside the borough or miss the year altogether, basically because the computer says no'."

Ben has been offered a place at Ray Lodge Primary School, in Snakes Lane East, which the family have turned down due to a reluctance to endure a 45-minute walk along two main roads every morning and afternoon.

Miss Oliver said: "We know a local family who were in a similar situation in 2005. They got the place in the end because the council admitted an error.

"We will appeal against the decision but we don't know what chance we have as the council refuse to admit an error has been made because the footpath is not on that particular department's map."

A council spokeswoman said: "Any system changes deemed necessary should be implemented for the next round of admissions so as to ensure a consistent basis for the current round."

The couple have warned other parents to avoid the same fate by confirming the shortest routes to their preferred schools before applying to the council.