Parents reassured over school places

Parents have been reassured that there are spaces available for new pupils at Toot Hill School, Bingham, despite rumours that it is full.

The school says worried parents have started to pay for private tutors to help their children pass entrance exams to get into the two grammar schools in Grantham.

But the Toot Hill head, Mr John Tomasevic, insists the rumours about the school being oversubscribed are not true.

He said applications were being received for children looking to start in September.

“We have never had to turn children away so parents really have no need to panic,” he said.

Mr Tomasevic said the rumours may have started as a result of the school’s recent A-level and GCSE results success.

He said: “Any child who attends one of our feeder primary schools is guaranteed a place in 2010 and beyond as there are plenty of places.

“We welcome all applications from outside our natural catchment area as well as those from within it and do our best to meet parental choice.”

He said Toot Hill has had spare places for some time after Colston Bassett Primary School closed in 2006 and reopened as a prep school a year later.

Mr Tomasevic said: “We understand this is a very trying time for parents as they make sure their child gets into a good school, but in our area, they really have no need to worry.”