'My son's been offered a school 27 miles away - it takes 7 hours to walk there'

A shocked revealed her son has been offered a place which would take seven-and-a-half hours to walk to. Lorraine Joseph, 52, raged after her 11-year-old boy Kyle Brum was allocated a 27 miles away - which would involve the student crossing the Channel on his commute.

The mum said she and Kyle's dad, Anthony Brum, 63, were at a loss after three of their choices, closer to their home on the , in , were rejected. The boy's hoped he would be accepted into Leigh Academy on the island but were surprised to find out he was given a place at Abbey School in Faversham.

His mum said she felt stuck as neither parent would be able to drive him to school - leaving the child with a two hour journey. Lorraine said he would either be forced to cycle for two hours or take two , a bus and walk for 30 minutes for the school run.

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Lorraine, a teaching assistant, said they put down Leigh Academy as their first preference in October 2024 and listed three other options in Sittingbourne - 13 miles away from where their home in Leysdown-on-Sea. The family heard back in March 2025 and couldn't believe it when they saw Kyle had only been accepted into a school 27 miles away.

The mum claimed she has tried to appeal the decision but each school told her they don't meet the subscription criteria. She said: "There's not even a direct bus that runs there."

Lorraine raged and shared why she believed it could be a safety issue, saying: "Or he can get public transport - but he'd have to get the bus at 5.50am. Get a train to Sittingbourne, then another one to Faversham and then walk.

"It's a safeguarding issue. There is no way I'm allowing my child to do that." The mum claimed other people on her side of the island had the same schooling problem and said she has been in touch with Kent County Council in a desperate attempt to get a new bus route set up.

The council allegedly told Lorraine 30 new places had became available at Leigh Academy but she says Kyle is 900 on the waiting list. The mum said she is now considering home schooling her son but this option might fall through because both parents work full-time.

Lorraine added: "It's unrealistic. It's a two-hour journey to get home - he'd be exhausted." The mum added she fears they'll face the same problem with their younger daughter Zara, when she has to apply for schools.

She added: "This is unbelievable treatment that the children who live this end of the island are having to experience. The kids at this end of the island have been forgotten. You might as well have offered them a school in Southend [in ].

"They feel penalised because of where they are living. How can they concentrate on their SATs? A lot of them are scared - they don't know where they are going. It's awful and very sad."

Kent County Council said more offers would be going out for the Leigh Academy in the next few weeks. A spokesperson said: "We understand and sympathise with the concerns a small group of parents currently have on the Isle of Sheppey.

“The welcome change of secondary school providers in September 2024 means more families want their child educated on the Island than ever before. KCC has been supporting schools to help them respond to the surge in popularity."