A GROUP of mothers from Beaconsfield have won a bid to get their children a place at one of the town's primary schools.

Steven Adams, the new schools boss at Buckinghamshire County Council, has offered the solution of an extra reception class at St Mary & All Saints Primary School.

Sixteen Beaconsfield children had been left without a place at any of the three primary schools in the town. They were offered places at schools in neighbouring villages up to five miles from their homes.

Anita Tecke, 34, was told her four-year-old son Aaron would have to go to the Curzon School in Penn Street - which is nearly a five mile round-trip from their home in Knottocks End.

But today she said: "St Mary's was our first choice so we are delighted. We went to lots of meetings and it's all paid off.

Last month she went to county hall in Aylesbury with other mums to ask councillors to find a solution.

MP Dominic Grieve had already backed their campaign, while Peter Hardy, a county councillor, had branded the situation “ridiculous”.

Sara Littlewood, 42, of Woodside Avenue, said she was “relieved” to see her four-year-old son Max offered a place at St Mary's. She had also been faced with a daily car journey to the Curzon School.

She added: “We had a lot riding on this so we put a lot into the campaign. We are just really gratified that Steven Adams took this and ran with it and made it happen, along with Mrs Kilner [headteacher at St Mary's].

Steven Adams, cabinet member for achievement and learning, said: "Our overriding interests must be focused on the children and families involved and, with that in mind, we've agreed to putting in an additional 26 places at St Mary's school in a so-called 'bulge class'.

“This will require redesigning within the existing building and staff recruitment, but it is anticipated this will all be in place for the September intake.”

Meanwhile, Elaine Kilner wrote to parents: “We are pleased... most importantly to provide the best possible outcome for our young children in the community who were most affected.”

Katy Buckingham, whose son had been denied a place at St Mary's despite living next to the school field (see link below), said he has now been offered a place but she did not wish to comment.