ABOUT 100 families in Colchester saw their children miss out on all four of their primary school choices.

Children now face long journeys to get to a school – and in some cases siblings may be split up.

Colchester is one of the fastest growing towns in the country with about 1,000 homes being built each year.

Essex County Council had to find places for 2,352 pupils starting primary school in Colchester this September.

Two new primary schools are already planned for Colchester and nine have been expanded to cope with the rising demand.

But about 4 per cent of children in Colchester still missed out on all their choices. It means 101 children were put in whichever school had a space. More than 17 in 20 children in Essex were offered their parents’ first preference primary school.

Chris Kiernan, Essex County Council’s Interim Director for Commissioning: Education and Lifelong Learning, said: “I am delighted we have once again been able to offer the vast majority of children their parents’ first preference primary school, despite the growing pressure on places.

“This achievement is a further demonstration of the investment we are making in creating additional primary school places, as well as the hard work and dedication of schools and admissions staff.”

I'll teach my son myself

CHLOE Harvey says she will home school her son Thomas, four, rather sending him to a school five miles from her Great Horkesley home.

She wanted Thomas to attend Bishop William Ward School, which is 0.38miles away, but has been given a place at Holy Trinity School in Fordham.

Mrs Harvey, 28, said she will give up her career as a nurse to home school Thomas if she cannot get him into a school closer to home.

She said: “He was distraught when I told him. It is going to be extremely unsettling.

“I don’t think parents should have to make a decision of putting their child in second best.

“If I have to home school, I will have to give up my career. I don’t think the council should put any mother in that situation.”

Mrs Harvey and her husband James, 32, were certain Thomas would get a place at their village school, as last year she believes they were able to take children from outside the area.

She is also having to look at alternative pre-schools for their other son George, two.

She said: “Thursday was a day of crying. We are really disappointed and angry with Essex County Council.

“They seem very quick to be building all these new houses but not sorting provision for new schools.”