THE stage is being set for what could be the biggest challenge to the allocation of places at Sir William Borlase's Grammar School.

Following this year's 11-plus results, around 20 parents in Marlow are furious that their children were rejected by Sir William Borlase's and are to be bused off to grammar schools in Aylesbury.

This is despite them having passed their 11-plus and living within walking distance of the West Street school, which was their first choice.

Parents also claim that around 80 out of the 120 places at the school have gone to children in Berkshire and Oxfordshire.

For the past five years, this controversial issue has dogged the town, with Marlow parents fighting tooth and nail through appeals to secure places for their children at Sir William Borlase's.

Buckinghamshire county councillor Pam Crawford (Lib Dem group leader) said the problem started when the school applied to opt out of local authority control and become grant-maintained.

She said after Sir William Borlase's went grant-maintained it then applied to expand its catchment area into Berks and Oxfordshire. The county council objected but could do nothing about it.

She claimed that some people who had put it as first preference and lived close to the school might be passed over for other children from across the border who had more points in the 11-plus.

Marlow resident Andrew Milsom's daughter is one of the children being offered a place in Aylesbury.

The High Street estate agent, who himself went to Borlase, is fighting the decision.

He said: "I find this an absolutely extraordinary situation, I can only hope that common sense prevails."

Parents from Burfords School, Danesfield School and Holy Trinity School are all preparing to appeal against the decision but many are afraid to speak out for fear of damaging their chances.

Verity Walker, a Marlow businesswoman, has been appointed to represent some of them.

She said: "Aylesbury is 25 miles away. Staying behind for extra-curricular activities would be out of the question. These children will lose their local roots and friends.

"We understand that children are being accepted to Borlase from Henley, Slough and Maidenhead all towns with good schools of their own."

Euan McCrindle, of Danesfield, whose son Toby was first offered a place at Chesham last year before getting a place at Sir William Borlase's, said: "It is ludicrous. The county council have done nothing about this for five years. They could sort out the situation by changing the catchment area."

Peter Holding, headteacher of Sir William Borlase's Grammar School, was unavailable for comment.

A county council spokesman said: "The school is very heavily oversubscribed. If a child does not get a place at their first choice then they will be offered a place in the nearest grammar school where there is a place available."