LITTLE Michal Jones (pictured with her mother) desperately wanted to stay in the school where she had been happy as a nursery pupil.

But the school is so popular and over-subscribed that the four-year-old has been refused a place in the junior section and instead must travel to another one.

Now her parents, David and Lesley Jones, are complaining they are not being allowed to exercise parental choice.

Their case is one of an increasing number in Newport where parents' wishes cannot be accommodated - the number of refusals has doubled this year.

Newport council told the family Michal cannot attend Eveswell Junior on Chepstow Road and must go to Maindee Junior instead.

Both schools are in walking distance, but Mr and Mrs Jones were unhappy with the option and unsuccessfully appealed against the decision.

They have now decided to accept a place for Michal at St Gabriels School, Ringland, which will require transport.

Around 17 children at the Eveswell nursery were told they must go elsewhere, of which half a dozen accepted the decision. The remainder appealed.

Mrs Jones claims there is conflict between government encouragement for parents to choose and the reality at local level.

"A school which appears to be as popular as Eveswell is in serious need of expansion," said Mrs Jones.

"This should be done either by acquiring more land to build on or increasing capacity by building upwards.

"These children would have been in walking distance of the school but now require transport."

When Mr and Mrs Jones made their unsuccessful appeal against the Maindee move, they were told the interests of the children were the most important consideration. "I fail to see how it is in the best interest of a child who has spent some time at Eveswell, settling in and having made friends, to now have to travel farther afield to a different school," said Mrs Jones.

Newport council told the Argus the appeal process was fair and independent but sometimes difficult decisions had to be made.

"Our overarching priority has always been pupils' achievement and there has been a long-standing interest in parental involvement in education," a spokeswoman said.