Why Alex faces a 45-mile trip to school

An 11-year-old boy who passed the 11 Plus faces a 45-mile journey each day to the grammar school that has given him a place.

Alex Chatfield, from Kemsing, near Sevenoaks, has been told his "nearest appropriate school" is in Folkestone. His mother, Sandra Chatfield, said it would take him more than two hours to get to school and another two hours to return.

Kent county council said grammar schools in west Kent were heavily subscribed. It is encouraging parents who have not been given a local school for their child to appeal by 26 March.

Alex did not get his first two choices near his home and was instead offered The Harvey Grammar School. Mrs Chatfield said: "He would be able to do it if he walks to a station, takes one train, changes trains, gets a bus the other end, and has to still walk from the bus to the school."

Kent council said 78 per cent got into their first choice school, up from 70 per cent last year. Of those pupils who did not get their first choice, 11 per cent did get their second choice, it said.