Parents campaigning to save 15 desperately needed junior school places have lost their fight.

Cheam Park Farm Junior School governors voted with a majority of 10:1 to stand by their decision to admit 90 children instead of 105, ignoring advice from an Admissions Forum and a three-month campaign by parents at the infant school.

In a letter to parents, chairman of governors Cheam Park Farm Junior School Jackie Saddington said: “It was felt that if we allow all children this year, this would set a precedent and in terms of fairness and consistency we would be obliged to continue to take the 105 year after year until the Junior school has 420 on roll.”

She said governors felt this would have a “detrimental” effect on the school.

The governors said they were in favour of ‘local schools for local children’ but insisted the it had to be “right for everybody”. Mrs Saddington said: “The governors emphasised at the meeting that they do feel sympathy and empathy with the parents and children at the Infants School who are experiencing anxiety of the transition to the Juniors.”

Worried parents started the Cheam Park Farm 105 campaign to reinstate 15 places - more than 130 people backed the campaign on social networking site Facebook.

In the run up to the decision around 100 parents met Liberal Democrat MP Paul Burstow and Conservative parliamentary candidate Philippa Stroud to raise their concerns. This was followed by a protest outside the Civic Centre and a march through Sutton town centre. A petition signed by 325 people was also handed into the council's executive meeting.

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