An Epsom secondary school cannot adopt an admission policy which would give places to Epsom children over those from Sutton, an adjudicator has ruled.

The judgement is a further twist in the admissions row which erupted after news that 18 children in Sutton are still without a secondary school place.

Blenheim High a mixed school one-and-a-half miles over the borough border in Longmead Road wanted to give preference to 11 year olds from Epsom because local parents had fought a long campaign to get it built.

But Sutton Council called the proposals "unfair" and called for a final decision to be made by an independent adjudicator.

Dr Alan Billings partially upheld Sutton's objection, saying: "What the school was proposing would discriminate heavily in favour of children from Epsom and Ewell, to the disadvantage of those who live nearby in Sutton."

The Greenwich Judgement stops authorities from giving priority to children living in the same borough as the school.

Sutton Council said Epsom had contravened this: "We feel this was unfair to children in this area as it excluded Sutton addresses, which include those in Worcester Park."

This decision comes at a time when parents of the children without a school may face legal action.

The council offered places at Stanley Park School or out of the borough but parents argue they were within their rights to refuse them.

Now in a stand-off parents are begging the council to squeeze their children into local schools.

Education director Ian Birnbaum said: "Unless the law is changed the Greenwich Judgement means some parents have to take up places in schools in neighbouring boroughs."

October 26, 2001 17:00