A DISAPPOINTED mother will drive past seven primary schools before arriving at the one her daughter is being sent to.

Nicola Wright, 41, and husband, Steve, 36, of Fulmar Close, Longridge, submitted a choice of four schools for Frankie, four, to attend, including Roach Vale Primary School, Parsons Heath, St John’s and Friar’s Grove.

However, they were furious to discover the Orchard Cottage Montessori Nursery pupil had been allocated a place at Colchester’s new Camulos Academy, four and a half miles away, which is not even open yet.

The family immediately launched an appeal against the decision.

The school run will take three hours each day by bus, or up to 45 minutes by car, at an estimated annual cost of more than £1,000.

The mother-of-three said: “The whole situation is just ridiculous and we’re scared in case it doesn’t change.

“Essex Council had told us the schools closest to us were full. A ward councillor who we raised the issue with advised us to refuse the place but we’re scared to do that because she could end up further away.

"Steve and I have wondered whether to pull her out altogether but then Frankie will suffer. We’ve even spoken about taking out a loan to fund a private school but part of me thinks, why should we have to?

“Frankie isn’t going to know a soul at this school and she’s quite an anxious child so we’re worried for her.

“The logistics just aren’t practical with the distance.”

While the Wright family wait for an appeal date, they plan to attend a Camulos Academy information event at the Weston Homes Community Stadium next Friday.

The school, based at the old Severalls Hospital site, will be led by headmaster Daryl Power and eventually serve 420 pupils living in north Colchester.

Councillor Ray Gooding, Essex Council Cabinet Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, said: “All applications are considered under the published oversubscription criteria for schools and places offered to those ranking highest against the criteria for individual schools.

“It’s always regrettable where a parent does not obtain a place at the school they wanted their child to attend but there are circumstances where parents don’t use all of their preferences, apply late or for schools where they have a low priority against the admission criteria.

“This, unfortunately, can mean an offer of a school some distance away.”