So, Dundonald Rec is being built upon to expand the local school.

Locals will have to put up with several years of obstruction, heavy work traffic (if the first week is anything to go by) and general upheaval as the playground is moved.

But schools for locals right?

Sadly I am not confident this is the case.

In this September's intake, 21 of the 30 children lived outside the catchment area.

So only nine lived within the 107metre supposed catchment while 21 were spread over a one mile radius.

These numbers suggest many parents are playing the system, renting property within the catchment, getting one sibling into the school, moving out, allowing subsequent siblings priority over local children.

This will only get worse when the school is enlarged.

Merton Council needs to change its schools admissions now to stop this unfairness.

Nic Fleming

Cliveden Road