Maldon district could have new or bigger primary schools within the next few years.

Essex County Council education spokesman Mike Barnett confirmed that due to pressure on schools in the Maldon area, the authority was to conduct a "close review" of primary school places.

The county council would look at the possibility of extending existing schools as well as building from scratch.

But before work could begin, "substantial growth in school numbers" would have to be proved, he said.

Mr Barnett's comments followed news of the most recent case of a Maldon mother complaining that her children had been denied places at the schools of her choice.

Angela Johnson said when she moved to Memory Close, Maldon from Romford in August she understood places would be provided for her children Charlotte, eight, and Adam, five, at either Maldon Primary School or Wentworth School.

When places were allocated for them at All Saints School, nearly a mile and half from home, she appealed to the county council but lost her case.

Mrs Johnson said she didn't want Adam to travel to school by taxi and that she intended teaching both children at home, if she didn't get the places she had asked for.

Mr Barnett warned that parents who kept their children away from school were committing an offence unless the authority "was convinced the education provided at home was satisfactory."

Mr Barnett confirmed there had been several cases in Maldon in the last year "which have highlighted the shortage of school places."

"We try where possible to meet parents' preferences but we can only guarantee a place in one of the town's three primary schools."

The situation in Maldon was "tight but not critical" and was likely to stay that way for the time being, he said.

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