May 4th 2024.
Michelle, a dedicated mother of two, has been facing a difficult situation lately. She has been driving a hundred miles every day to take her children to school, as all the schools in her area are reportedly full. Last summer, Michelle and her two children, Jacob and Thomas, had to move from their home of eight years. After an arduous search, they finally found a shared-ownership house in Corby, Northamptonshire - two hours away from their previous home in Woking, Surrey.
However, Michelle was taken aback when she discovered that there were no available spots for her sons in any of the sixteen primary schools around Corby. She was offered a school five miles away, but it did not have an after-school club. This meant that Michelle would have to find a new job, which added to the already stressful situation.
Although one spot became available at one of her preferred schools for one of her sons, the other was still without a spot. This led Michelle to lodge an appeal with The Diocese of Peterborough - the governing body of the two schools she had chosen for her sons. As she waits for the result on May 20th, Jacob and Thomas are still attending their old school in Woking. This means that the family has to make the two-hour drive every week and stay with friends.
Michelle has been feeling the weight of her situation, saying, "We have to leave about 6:30 am to get back to Woking for about 8:30 and then drive back home on weekends - it's very difficult." She added, "I was told that everybody is moving to Corby, so there isn't enough space in schools. The council isn't planning to build any more schools, despite the growing number of new houses being built. That's the root of the problem."
She also expressed her frustration, saying, "I honestly must have been living in a dream world. I thought we were going to get this cheap house, keep our dog, and no one can evict us and do what we want. I just assumed that the local schools are going to accommodate the new builds in town. I never thought that they would say 'we're full.' I didn't even think that the schools a mile or two away would be full too."
Michelle's struggle began when she couldn't find a rental in Surrey, and no one was willing to accept a single mother on universal credit. She said, "I got the eviction notice in June, and by August, I had registered for this plot in Northamptonshire in this new development in Corby."
After moving to Corby, Michelle was informed that there was no room in the year three class because it was a "baby boom" year. A spokesperson for The Diocese of Peterborough clarified that they are not the admissions authority for any school, but they do operate an appeals service adhering to the School Admission Appeals Code, which some schools choose to buy into.
Despite the challenges she has faced, Michelle remains hopeful and determined to find a solution for her children's education. She has shown immense strength and resilience in the face of adversity and is a shining example of a loving and dedicated mother.
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