Alex Chatfield had wanted to go to a grammar school near his home An 11-year-old boy from Kent who passed the eleven plus exam faces a 90-mile round trip to school each day after he was given a place at a grammar school. Alex Chatfield, from Kemsing, near Sevenoaks, has been told his "nearest appropriate school" is in Folkestone. Sandra Chatfield said it would take her son just over two hours to get to school and another two hours to return. Kent County Council said the problem arose because grammar schools in west Kent were heavily subscribed. Two trains It has encouraged parents who have not been given a local school for their child to lodge an appeal by 26 March. Alex had wanted to go to a grammar school near his home, but he did not get his first two choices, and was instead offered The Harvey Grammar School, in Folkestone. "He would be able to do it if he walks to a station, takes one train, changes trains, gets a bus the other end, and has to still walk from the bus to the school," Mrs Chatfield said. Kent County Council (KCC) said this year 78% of pupils got their first choice of school, an increase on 70% last year. Of those pupils who did not get their first choice, 11% did get their second choice, it said.



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