EDUCATION bosses have backed an Amersham school in their bid to stop parents exploiting loopholes in the catchment area system.

Dr Challoner's Grammar School changed its admissions policy to stop parents renting a home in its catchment area on a short-term basis in order to get their son a place at the oversubscribed school.

The policy was challenged by a parent – but on Friday the Office of the Schools Adjudicator found in the school's favour.

Since 2008 parents have had to be a permanent resident of the catchment area for 17 months prior to their son's admission, and they can no longer use a rental property as ‘an address of convenience’ in order to get a place.

The policy was changed after school staff were unable to offer places to boys living in places such as Gerrards Cross, Denham and Prestwood.

Headmaster Dr Mark Fenton welcomed the decision.

He said: “I am delighted that the adjudicator has upheld the school’s position and that we will now be better placed to stop people cheating the system.

“Dr Challoner’s was set up in 1624 as a school for local boys and that is the way we want it to remain. If parents who live outside Buckinghamshire are not happy with the education system where they live they should move here permanently well before their son reaches secondary school age - or they should campaign to improve the system where they live.

“I have a lot of sympathy for parents who live in our catchment area and can never get a place. This ruling is a victory for them as much as for the school. We want the system to operate fairly.”