A VILLAGE school is so oversubscribed children who live next door to it can’t get a place.

Children are having to travel almost five miles to go to school as Great Bentley Primary School is already so full.

Plans have been submitted to provide additional classrooms – which would create an additional 210 pupil places at the school.

The proposed expansion primarily involves the construction of a new building accommodating seven classrooms.

The green light for expansion comes as the school faces increasing pressure for places including from Essex County Council wanting the school rated Outstanding by Ofsted to take children mid-year.

Tracey Caffull, executive headteacher of Great Bentley Primary School, told Essex County Council’s planning committee: “We are currently unable to meet the demand for the village.

"As a school we are oversubscribed. Each year we have in access of 70 first place choices for the school when it only has capacity for 30.

“We also find ourselves from significant pressure from the local authority to add mid-year joiners to our school numbers.

"And we are currently over the legal class limit in five of our seven classes.

"Our square footage is also is just on or under the recommended space in our classrooms and there is added pressure for school places due to increased birthrates and new housing growth.”

Mrs Caffull, said the situation has become so severe children living next door have not secured a place and instead forced to travel almost five miles to another school.

"It is projected more than 300 new dwellings would be constructed in the village over the next six years.

She said: “As school our job is to educate and serve our community and currently with our current size we are unable to teach all the children of our village.

"An example of this is the house adjacent to our school site which have had children refused and are having to travel nearly five miles to another primary school.”

About 1,300 square metres of grass playing field approximately a third of the total would be lost to the development.

Essex County Council planning committee member Councillor Mike Hardware said: “My personal view is the plans are ugly.

"It’s an opportunity missed. We have a duty with our young people to inspire. That building wouldn’t inspire anyone to anything.

“There is no doubt the need for this school is proven, everything apart from its aesthetic appeal I agree with including taking part of the sports field.

"But i do think we need to say something to the education team they need to up their design in future.”