CHILDREN could struggle to get into north Abingdon schools again this year due to a shortage of places.

The area’s MP, Nicola Blackwood, says there is a “clear need” for more openings for young pupils in the north of the town.

The MP for Oxford West and Abingdon added to fears raised by Abingdon Town Council leader Mike Badcock last week, who claimed the north was in “desperate need” of another school.

Parents must apply to primary schools by today for spaces in September.

Ms Blackwood said: “We will need 238 places by 2018 and 2019. Parents understandably want their children to be placed in schools close to home.

“This is something I have been raising with the county council, the schools minister and with other organisations running community projects to try to find a long-term solution, and I will continue doing so.”

Mr Badcock is worried that a new development of 158 homes in Drayton Road will increase pressure on already-full schools in the area. Last year, many families in north Abingdon had their children placed at schools in the south of the town, as the ones nearby were full.

Nicky Rowbotham, 39, has to drive her child four miles to Thameside School from their home in Abingdon’s Mattock Way. Her five-year-old son James was allocated a spot at the school in Cotman Close, south Abingdon, last year.

She said: “We pass seven schools on the way there. It takes half-an-hour with traffic.

“Schools knew with the 2010 baby boom they would face a problem. They should have done more sooner.”

Mrs Rowbotham’s house falls on the fringe of the catchment area for Rush Common School in Hendred Way, but neither that school nor her two other choices could accommodate James.

She said: “I was strongly advised to apply for our catchment school. They said that knowing full well there was not a hope in hell of getting in. I feel like I wasted one of my choices.”

Mrs Rowbowtham appealed against her son’s allocated spot and held talks with Ms Blackwood to try to get something done. She is now on waiting lists for all three of her choices.

Oxfordshire County Council is responsible for making sure there are enough places for every child in the county.

Spokesman Owen Morton said: “We monitor information relating to demand, including birth data and the likely impact of new housing development. Last year there was particularly high demand for places at schools in north Abingdon and a number of additional places were created at neighbouring schools.

“Indications are that there will be fewer children seeking school places in north Abingdon this year, though it won’t be clear until all applications have been processed.”

Mr Morton said that last year, 96 per cent of children were allocated one of their three preferred schools.