REACTION has been mixed to a drastic carving up of Sir William Borlase's Grammar School's controversial catchment area which would exclude pupils from as nearby as Little Marlow.

Education chiefs at Bucks County Council want to cut a huge swathe through the catchment area of the Marlow school in an effort to provide 'local schools for local children'.

The move would silence Marlow parents who have long complained that their children who are successful at 11-plus miss out to those from Henley and north Maidenhead with higher marks.

Verity Walker, who has been pushing for change, said: "I think commonsense has prevailed. When these proposals come into force parents in Marlow can breathe a sigh of relief."

Alison Veale, 42, of Westover Road near Downley, sent her eldest daughter to Borlase's two years ago.

She had planned to send to send her younger daughter to the school next year if she passes her 11-plus.

She said: "We would like the opportunity for both our children to be able to go to the same school as sisters. This now looks very unlikely."

The proposed move would bar pupils from High Wycombe, Bourne End, Little Marlow, Wooburn Green and Oxfordshire, making way for youngsters from the Marlow area, Stokenchurch and half of Maidenhead.

The school's governors, chaired by Ted Brown, had spent the last few months coming up with their own ideas on how to curb the catchment area. Their proposals were far less drastic, keeping Bourne End and half of High Wycombe within the area. They also have plans to buildto create space in the overfilled school.

Problems with the school's current catchment area have been rumbling for the last five years. The West Street school could afford to take the best in 11-plus results with such a large catchment area. This left some Marlow pupils being offered places at schools in Aylesbury and Chesham.

The school will be discussing this latest development next Friday. County council cabinet members will vote on the proposals in March.

Cllr Marion Clayton, county council cabinet member for schools, said: "We need local schools for local children."