PARENTS are celebrating after their children won the right to go to one of the county's leading grammar schools, following a lengthy appeal.

But campaigners say it is a hollow victory because only eight out of 30 students have won the right to attend Sir William Borlase's Grammar School in West Street, Marlow.

The parents have vowed to fight on for the other children who failed to get into the school even though they passed the 11 plus.

A row erupted amid claims that 80 out of a total of 120 places at the school were taken up by children living in Berkshire and Oxfordshire forcing many children from Marlow to travel to a school 25 miles away in Aylesbury.

Campaigner Verity Walker said: "As far as the other 22 children are concerned, some of them may end up going to Aylesbury.

"The parents of those children who have at last been admitted to Sir William Borlase have vowed to keep on fighting on behalf of these other children.

"It could take another couple of years until we see a proper improvement.

"This is a hollow victory because it is the system that must change.

"At the end of the day, it's the taxpayer who will bear the brunt of the transport costs involved in getting these children to and from Aylesbury."

"No reason for letting the eight children into the school has been given. The catchment area of the school will change in time. We have at least got some of the children in on appeal but it's a shame we did not manage to get the others in."

A spokesman for the school was not available for comment as Midweek went to press.