A WEST Somerset school has sparked a catchment area battle after launching a pre-emptive strike to increase its territory.

Minehead Middle announced this week that it hoped to extend the official area from which it draws pupils to include Watchet and Williton from September 2014.

The move directly encroaches on the area currently covered by Danesfield Middle, which is federated with St Peter's and Old Cleeve First schools.

Minehead Middle headteacher Paul Rushforth said the proposal was a response to a significant increase in the demand for places from localities beyond the existing limited catchment area, which runs from Blue Anchor in the east to County Gate in the west.

The school currently has 37 of its 550 pupils living outside that area, mainly from Watchet and Williton but also from as far as Devon and Stogursey.

And Mr Rushforth admitted that one of the main reasons for the extension bid was to allow those children's transport costs to and from school to be funded.

Parental choice allows children to apply for a place at any school in the county.

Somerset County Council, the local education authority, currently has a policy of funding transport to both pupils' nearest and catchment area schools.

But although the council will be asked for its views on the proposed catchment area change as part of a wider consultation process, the final decision will rest with Minehead Middle because of the autonomy it won when it was awarded academy status almost 18 months ago.

Mr Rushforth said the council could object and take its case to the Ombudsman.

"But it can't stop it," he said.

Mr Rushforth said the decision to consult on the proposed catchment area change had been made by the governors.

"This is a genuine consultation and it will run until the end of February.

"If a large number of people don't support this, then it won't happen - it is not a foregone conclusion.

"This is genuinely not an attempt to increase our numbers but an attempt to meet a real demand.

"Almost on a weekly basis we have enquiries from parents who are interested in their children coming to Minehead Middle.

"I think there ought to be an element of choice that does not depend on parents' income."

Chairman of governors Geoff Lloyd added: "We believe there is a growing demand for Minehead Middle to support parents in the Watchet and Williton area who are looking towards Minehead in the future and we know that parents greatly value our high quality teaching and learning, excellent facilities and quality of care."

Mr Lloyd said at the end of the consultation process the school would respond to everyone who had expressed a view.

"If the proposal, which is centred about ensuring choice, does not have significant community support, we will not take it forward."

Parent Ann Hartgen, who lives in Williton, has had two children attend Minehead Middle.

"It's a great school with brilliant teachers and a commitment to every pupil, which makes it a great place to learn," she said.

"I drive around 200 miles a week to get my daughter to school from Williton because I feel it is the best place for her but I struggle to find the petrol money.

"I know that a change to the catchment and a bus from my area to Minehead will mean a choice for parents about their children's education which they currently don't have."

Ian Bradbury, headteacher of the Quantock Federation, which is made up of Danesfield, St Peter's and Old Cleeve, told the Free Press he had not been consulted on the proposal.

Mr Bradbury said between ten and 12 percent of Danesfield's 340 pupils also came from outside its catchment area.

"It is a relatively similar number ot Minehead Middle but that is down to parental choice - something we have always supported."

"If Mr Rushforth is suggesting that there should be no catchment areas for any of the schools in West Somerset, then we would of course wish to discuss that.

"We always have the best interest of children at heart.

"From our perspective, we would want to see equability between schools."