MORE than 140 people have appealed against the county council’s decision over their child’s primary school place.

Almost nine out of 10 Oxfordshire children due to start primary school this year were offered their first choice when places were offered in April.

But the council has revealed it received 145 appeals, about two per cent of the 8,016 applications lodged.

In 2014, there were 243 appeals out of a total of 9,017 applications, according to Department for Education figures, of which 36 were successful.

More than 300 residents have signed a petition calling for more school places in Abingdon.

Mothers Nicola Rowbotham, Fiona Colcutt and Emma Lonie launched the change.org petition after their children were refused places at every primary school they applied for.

They were offered places at Thameside Primary School, which they said is too far from their homes, and not practical for them to get to.

Another appeal was lodged by Wantage mum-of-three Sarah Breakspear, whose youngest child was refused a place at a primary school despite already her having another son attending there.

The 29-year-old applied for her four-year-old daughter Milly to get a place at Stockham Primary School, in Wantage.

Her eight-year-old adopted son, who has severe learning difficulties, is currently at the school.

Milly was refused a place at the primary school as the family did not live in the catchment area and was instead offered a place at their local school, Wantage CofE.

Spokesman for Oxfordshire County Council Owen Morton said a number of those who applied from outside the area who had siblings at the school could not be offered a place.

He added: “There was sufficient capacity at the school to offer places to all in-catchment children who applied, but there were a number of applications from children living outside the catchment area with siblings at the school, and unfortunately not all of these could be accommodated.”

Miss Breakspear, who lives with partner Gary Couch, Milly’s father, and their two adopted children who are aged eight and 13, said she now may have to move her son out of Stockham and move him to Wantage CofE.

The 29-year-old said: “The main reason I’m upset is because it could mean I have to move my adopted child who is settled and has learning difficulties.

“My two older adopted children were given places there because of their circumstances, but now that it’s time for Milly to go, they have rejected her. If Milly can’t go to Stockham Primary, I’ll have to be in two places at once.”

Miss Breakspear is now awaiting the result of her appeal.