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MP Michael Fallon calls for more grammar schools

Michael Fallon, MP for Sevenoaks
Michael Fallon, MP for Sevenoaks

There are demands for more grammar schools to be built after pupils in one Kent constituency were offered secondary school places 55 miles away.

Sevenoaks MP Michael Fallon is calling for more money to be invested in schools in the area after hearing the story of a 10-year-old from Brasted.

Barney Bingham, an Amherst Junior School pupil, passed his 11-plus in September but was offered a place at Harvey Grammar School in Folkestone, which would mean a daily round trip of 110 miles by the most direct route.



Audio: Sharron Bingham talks to kmfm about the situation

"You actually live closer to the school if you live in Calais," she said. "We are going through all the angst of the appeal process and then the waiting list procedure. The uncertainty of it all is so unpleasant.

"We need another grammar school or two somewhere closer to accommodate all these children. The places at all the local grammar schools are taken up very early on.

"They are all heavily oversubscribed. A lot of schools just take top scorers even from out of the area - but the problem with that is local people are pushed out further."

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