CHILDREN from Dulverton’s All Saints School are now eligible to receive free transport to Kingsmead Secondary School in Wiveliscombe.

The controversial decision by Somerset County Council comes after a consultation period and will allow children from the age of 11 to receive free home-toschool transport to Kingsmead School, in the Taunton Deane district, rather than at the age of 13.

Kingsmead has already widened its catchment area to include those in the Dulverton Middle School catchment area as of the 2015 intake.

This could mean that children who attend Dulverton Middle School (from the ages 9-13, Year 5 to Year 8) may prefer to attend Kingsmead School in Year 7 due to free transport opportunities, causing the middle school to suffer.

The free school transport service already provided for families in the Dulverton area to West Somerset College in Minehead, and to Dulverton Middle School – for those families in the area who live more than 3 miles from Dulverton – will continue, and is not changing.

Mr Jerry Weedon, head teacher of Dulverton Middle School said: “We welcome any development that gives parents choice regarding their children’s education.

“And to my knowledge this is the first time that this has happened for parents in Dulverton.”

Parents are entitled to free transport to their nearest school when it is more than three miles from their home.

Nearly 60 people responded to the consultation on the plans to increase the amount of free transport available to them from September 2015.

The response showed that most eligible parents would welcome the offer of free transport to Kingsmead from the age of 11.

Councillor Frances Nicholson, Cabinet member for Children’s Services, said: “I welcome a decision that supports parents to express their preferences for their children’s educational path.”

No comment was available from, Kingsmead as the County Gazette went to press.