A MOTHER, who spends two hours a day taking her children to school, has voiced her distress at not being able to send them to the same local primary school.

Only five places are available for Year 5 pupils in two – High Cross Primary School and Pentrepoeth Primary School – out of five primaries in the Bassaleg catchment area, according to a Newport City Council document.

Hannah Williams, who lives in Rogerstone, has spoken of the stress caused at not a single primary school in the Bassaleg catchment area being able to accept both of her children.

“We moved to Rogerstone in 2016,” said Mrs Williams, “I enquired in 2016 which school could have both of my children and I was told that High Cross Primary School could only accept my eldest daughter, who is nine.

“But I thought ‘what about my other 7-year-old daughter’.”

The 33-year-old said that sending her children to different schools “was not an option”.

She said: “I couldn’t split up my children.

“Every parent would like their child to go to their local primary school.”

As a result, Mrs Williams decided to make long journeys and send her children to Machen Primary School.

She said: “It isn’t the best because journeys there and back twice a day must come to two hours in total.

“We arrive at the school just on time. All of the travelling has caused a financial strain. and our children want to socialise after school but it isn’t good because of the long distance.”

The mother of two added that the traffic can be “horrendous” on some days.

This month Mrs Williams decided to contact Newport City Council to ask if a Bassaleg primary could now accept both of her children.

She said: “I was told that my one child could go to Crindau Primary School and the other to Glasllwch Primary School.

“I couldn’t say yes because I don’t want them split up and taking them to two different schools with the traffic would be awful.”

Mrs Williams hopes that a primary school in the Bassaleg area will soon be able to offer both her children places.

Cllr David Williams, who is governor at Pentrepoeth School, said he was “disappointed”.

He said: “I think if parents have to send their children to a school out of the catchment area then the council should accommodate by paying transport costs. I also hope the council will work with the Welsh Government to solve the problem which I think has been caused by caps to primary school numbers.”

Cllr Chris Evans added: “I believe in local schools for local kids.”

A spokeswoman from Newport City Council said that there is no guarantee of a place at any school in Newport.

She said: “Before applying to transfer a child to another school, applicants are advised to discuss their options with the current school in the first instance. When applying for a school place the council will try to comply with parental preference, however, if the admission number of the relevant year group at the chosen school has already been reached, the transfer request cannot be granted and applicants are advised of their right to appeal against the council’s decision.”

She added that some pupils may be eligible for free home to school transport.