A MOTHER who spent 15 years in the RAF before being medically discharged says her son is being denied an education.

Diana Wall moved to North Swindon last year after leaving her military accommodation.

The 33-year-old, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, chose a property in Redhouse Way due to the proximity of primary schools for her son.

Diana’s injury makes it difficult for her to walk more than a mile and with three schools within that radius from her new home she was confident six-year-old Louie would be able to secure a place.

“We checked out the areas and this was the best for schools,” said Diana.

“We applied for all three schools but he didn’t get in to any of them. Instead they offered us a place at a school three miles away.

“It’s just not possible for me to walk that far, they never should have offered it.”

Believing that if the council, who make decisions on school admissions, had been aware of her situation they may have decided differently, Diana appealed.

But despite letters from doctors, the decision went unchanged.

“They didn’t take it into consideration. Even getting in touch with the council has been hard," she said.

"At one point we were ignored for three months - it was only when I got the MP involved they started responding again. The whole process is a joke.”

Diana understands from the council that because she refused a place, they are treating it as if she has opted to home-school her son.

“I just feel bad for Louie,” she said. “He’s six, he doesn’t know anyone here and I just want him to be able to go to school.”

It is now eight months since Louie was in school and with the new academic year just around the corner, Diana is still unsure when he might return.

His younger sister will start in reception at the school closest to their home next week and Diana is hoping that common sense prevails and that a place can be found for Louie there.

But she has been told that for now she must wait until the third week of September. Only once the school year has started will she find out if there is a place available for her son.

A council spokesman said: “We have every sympathy with Mrs Wall’s situation, but in North Swindon there is considerable pressure on school places so when new families move into the area, they do need to consider this.

“On the positive side, most Swindon primary schools are rated at least good, so a good school place is usually available. Mrs Wall’s son is on the waiting list for the three schools but she does need to make a new application for him.”