GRAMMAR schools in Reading have come under fire as a parent petition is launched campaigning for them to admit more pupils from the borough.

A website entitled Transform Reading and Kendrick has also been created imploring that Reading Boys School and Kendrick Girls School open themselves to more children in the town.

The criticisms centre on the catchment area for the sought-after grammar schools which covers an area roughly the size of the M25, with children travelling in from Oxford, Slough and Newbury as well as many outlying villages in between.

James Coombs, founder of the petition, is campaigning for the schools to return to their previous position of taking the majority of pupils from the borough.

He said: “I think it’s wrong when you hear about children getting on the train at Oxford station coming to these schools but people who live here cannot get in. They said that Reading people can still apply but that overlooks the fact that if you are driving up those standards you are closing off those people on lower income. It is fine for those people who can afford to use private schools and private primary education but we do not have enough people on lower income in our grammar schools.”

Mr Coombs pointed out that prior to 1989, the majority of pupils were taken from Reading borough but when he asked schools to clarify why this changed he was told that their records did not go back that far.

Within three days of going live, the petition had attracted more than 200 signatures and was receiving comments from past pupils on the divisive school experience for children who have to travel long distances.

However not everyone who has posted on the site has agreed and one user, under the name Caroline, said: “I wholeheartedly disagree with your statement about making children commuters. I ‘commuted’ to Kendrick and I can assure you I had a life. A hugely varied and rewarding one thanks to my education at Kendrick School.”

A joint statement from Christine Kattirtzi, head teacher at Kendrick School, and Ashley Robson, head teacher at Reading School, was released on Tuesday.

It read: “Kendrick School and Reading School are aware of this petition. Both schools are currently in the consultation period for our admission policies for entry in September 2016.

“Members of the public are welcome to give their views on the proposed policies which can be found on our respective website. All comments should be received no later than February 28, 2015. The final policies will be published by April 15, 2015 in line with the requirements laid out by the School Admissions Code.”