King's Somborne Primary School place refused for local boy

King's Somborne C of E Primary School announced that it would be reducing its Year R class sizes from 20 to 15 for the start of the next academic year.

This has been difficult news for Suzanne Lewis who lives in the village.

Ms Lewis, of Lancaster Green, said that her four-year-old son Seth attended preschool in King's Somborne, but he has been offered a place at Lockerley Primary School, not his first choice in King's Somborne. 

The 47-year-old said her family has been in the village since the 1800s and that six generations have attended the school. Seth also has four nephews who currently attend the school.

Ms Lewis, who works at Alma Road Surgery, said: “I'm absolutely devastated that Seth did not get a place.

“Being offered a place at Lockerley is out of the question and ridiculous. I rely heavily on my daughter Chantelle to take Seth to school and collect him, as I work all week but Thursdays. I can not afford to cut my hours to be home for Seth with the rise of the cost of living.

“We feel absolutely let down by the school and local authority, no thought has gone into the mental health and well-being of our children and the detrimental effect this will have on our son and others.

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“I have not even told Seth that he has not got a place at the school with his friends and family for fear of sparking deep anxiety for him. I am just hoping for a miracle for everyone affected." 

She said the situation has been made worse as Seth has struggled with controlling his emotions and anxiety, and he has developed OCD behaviours. 

She said: “Every morning is a struggle, we have tears, we have anger, occasionally laughter but all of these emotions are very heightened.

“Having discussed the situation with his key worker we had hoped for a smooth transition into a primary school he was already familiar with, knowing he was joining his nephews and following his peers.

“This is the first time in 10 years the preschool has seen anything like this, numbers lowered and local children are not gaining places.”

Hampshire County Council recently reported that more than 93 per cent had been allocated a place at their first choice of school.

A spokesman for Hampshire County Council said that a consultation had been carried out in 2021 prior to the reduction due to a request from the school on educational, curricular, and financial grounds, but no comments were received. 

They encouraged people affected to appeal.

They said: “The county council endeavours to meet parental preference as far as possible, but should a family not secure a place at one of their preferred schools, the child is automatically added to the school’s waiting list, through which places can subsequently become available.

"Additionally, we offer advice and guidance including details of our appeals process. We urge any families with concerns relating to their child’s school place to speak to our Admissions team directly so their queries can be investigated accordingly.”

King's Somborne Primary School headteacher Paul O'Brien said there had been a long consultation prior to the decision.

He added: “We are incredibly proud of our school and would wholeheartedly welcome each of these children and their families, were we able to do so. However, given the financial constraints and legal limits on infant class sizes, the PAN reduction is now strategically essential for both financial and educational reasons.

“We want to remind those still seeking a place for September that the Local Authority operates a waiting list, and those refused a place at the school have been automatically added to this.

"Places can become available via the waiting list for various reasons, including parents changing their minds or families moving home. There is also an independent appeals process and families may wish to engage with that process accordingly.

"We would highlight that in the meantime, we will continue to do all that we can to support each and every one of our children, and their families.”