A MUM of three says it’s “ludicrous” that her children may be split up after failing to get her son into the same primary school as his two older sisters.

Emma Walters, of East Lyng, wants her four-year-old son, Samuel, to start at Creech St Michael Primary in September.

Emma’s parents live in the village, and they already take her two girls to school and pick them up at the end of the day before Emma finishes work in Taunton.

However, like nearly 10% of parents across Somerset, Emma discovered last week that she hadn’t secured her first choice. Her second and third choices were also denied.

Samuel has instead been allocated to North Curry Primary School.

Emma said: “We realise we’re not in the catchment area, but it’s devastating to split the children up.

“We have no physical way of getting our son to that school for 9am. We’re so passionate about trying to keep them together, but we don’t know yet – we’re going to appeal.

“The children are very close and I know Samuel would not like being split up. It would be very confusing for him.

"He’d be going into the unknown, and if you’re turning up late it would affect his education. I was chair of Creech St Michael Pre-School and my son has only just made friends there, and he wouldn’t know anyone at North Curry.

“We have no links to that school, whatsoever and it’s about logistics.

“We have support from my parents in Creech St Michael and the school there is wonderful. Our doctors are in the village, too, so if ever they had a medical need they’re there.

“It isn’t all clear cut. We’re not just saying we want them to go here because of the latest OFSTED.”

“If we’re turned down what chance does anyone else have? You’d have to look at uprooting and moving.

“You’re meant to have more choice, but in today’s society it seems you can’t even keep siblings together.”

Julia Ridge, responsible for school admissions, said: "In the majority of cases we have been able to meet parents and carers' preferences, despite an increase in applications overall.”