Families in villages north of Banbury, Oxfordshire, are facing long daily commutes after a shortage of local secondary school places forced children to be allocated spots in The Cooper School in Bicester. This decision affects residents in areas like Cropredy who now face a 40-mile round trip to ensure their children can attend secondary education starting in September.
According to Oxfordshire County Council, the shortage is due to a combination of larger year groups moving through the school system and local housing growth. Parents have been informed that the council will not provide transport for these journeys, leaving families to manage the travel arrangements and costs themselves.
Local representatives and families have raised concerns about the safety and financial burden of these long journeys, as many children were not given places at any of their preferred local schools. Councillor Sean Gaul, who is responsible for education at the council, is currently engaging with the community to address these capacity issues.
A second round of school place allocations is set to take place on 8 May 2026, which may offer some families a chance to secure a spot closer to home. For now, many parents remain in a state of uncertainty while they wait to see if any local vacancies become available before the new school year begins.
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