A MOTHER could face a three-hour round trip to walk her son to school after failing to get a place at any they applied for.

Steph Wheeler who lives in Mortimer Gardens, Mile End, Colchester, wanted Bradley, four, to go to a nearby school, and listed Brinkley Grove, Highwoods and St John’s.

But instead, he has been offered King’s Ford Primary School, which is 4.8 miles away, in Gloucester Avenue.

Ms Wheeler, 29, said: “I looked at it and thought that can’t be right.

“I thought it must have been a mistake.

“I’ve never heard of it.”

This means that, from September, Steph will have four of her five children at four different schools.

Her eldest son Joshua, 11, is at the Gilberd Secondary School and her second youngest is at pre-school.

Her daughter Summer, six, attends Willow Brook Primary School in Barnardiston Road, as it was the only place available when the family moved to Colchester from Billericay in May last year.

Summer has been on the waiting list for Brinkley Grove for more than a year.

Ms Wheeler said: “There is no way of me getting him there.

“I’m fuming. I’m upset because I don’t understand.

“I just think it is so unfair how it is worked out.

“We shouldn’t have to have this worry.”

Essex County Council issued letters to 16,500 families telling them which primary schools their four and five-year-old children got into.

But about 87 per cent got their first choice – or 17 in every 20 children.

Sharon Lawrence, who lives in Layer Road, listed Prettygate, Layer de la Haye, Home Farm and Hamilton Primary Schools for her daughter Ella.

But instead Ella has been offered a place at King’s Ford.

Ms Lawrence, 33, said: “I researched and visited all of the local schools. I thought we would at least get one of them.

“It seems like we’ve just been left with what was left.

“I was devastated. It’s the next seven years of my daughter’s life.

“Everyone else seems to have got their first choice. I feel like it’s really unfair.”

Lauren Sherman, 24, did not get any of her four chosen schools for her daughter Kyla.

They were offered a place at Unity Primary Academy, a 30-minute walk from their Hythe Hill home.

She said: “I’m really angry about it.

“I’m a single working mum. It’s going to make life really difficult.”