CHILDREN caught in a wrangle over catchment areas, following the collapse of the schools reorganisation in Colchester, will be given free bus passes.

Year 6 pupils at Mersea Island Primary School will not have to pay to be taken to Thurstable School, in Tiptree, when they enter Year 7, even though Thomas Lord Audley School remains open.

Thomas Lord Audley has been the priority school for Mersea Island admissions.

But priority was switched to Thurstable School because of plans to close Thomas Lord Audley. The reorganisation has now been postponed.

Headteachers from Mersea Island Primary and Thurstable schools said it would have been unfair for parents to be financially penalised by £330 per child because of the U-turn.

Stephen Castle, county councillor responsible for education, agreed and said he acknowledged the implications to parents and pupils whose plans had been unavoidably changed.

Becky Smith, whose son Zak is in his last year at Mersea Island Primary, has to apply for his secondary school by October 31.

She said there was still confusion over the catchment areas but welcomed news about free buses.

Mrs Smith said: “At the moment we don’t know whether it is going to be a dual catchment area or not. Once again they’re leaving it until the last minute to tell us.

“Given the choice, I’d rather send my son to Thomas Lord Audley because we preferred the vibe there. But it is good news about the bus passes.” Nicky Sirett, Mersea Island Primary headteacher, said parents had been put in a difficult position, and added: “Transporting children can be a divisive issue, and hard if you can’t afford to spend several hundred pounds each year.

“I hope this sets a precedent, because the feeling of a lot of parents is they should be able to choose.”

Representatives of the schools and Essex County Council will meet parents tomorrow to discuss the issues.