Parents fighting to get their children into Orleans Infant School have welcomed the six places offered to them.

But they have vowed to fight on until all the children have places at the school or are offered an alternative.

One of the leading protesters, Stephanie Young, whose daughter, Scarlett, three, has been given a place said: "On a personal basis we are pleased but we feel sorry for other parents who do not have a school place for their children yet."

Despite the good news there are still children who have yet to be offered a place at an infants school in the borough.

As well as continuing the fight to get children into school this year the Saint Margarets Action Group is trying to get the council to change the way places are allocated.

Stephanie's husband David said: "It is fairly easy to reform the admission criteria to make sure more St Margarets children enter Orleans Infants next year. We believe people should be allowed choices. At the moment if you do not get your first choice of school you go to the back of the queue."

And Mrs Young feels if something is not done the same problem will recur next year.

"We have calculated that 41 places will be over-subscribed next year," she said.

At the moment the sibling link draws in many children from outside the borough. If you have a child in the school already but then move out of the borough any children following will be given a place in the school.

The action group believes the sibling link is important but feel it should have a geographical limit. They claim people from as far away as Walton on Thames are taking their children to the school.

"It is madness," said Mr Young. "Out of borough children were given offers to the Vineyard School in January yet many people in northern St Magarets still haven't got any offer of a school place."

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