A group of parents who refused to send their children to a failing Essex school have been awarded more than £10,450 towards home tutoring.

Six children aged 11 and 12 have been receiving home tutoring since September after Essex County Council granted the money due to the failure of Bishops Park College on Clacton-On-Sea.

The families said the money would pay for the children’s lessons until the end of term, by which they hope to get into one of the four schools they had originally applied for but were turned down.  

They also believe the education authority’s decision could prompt other parents to take similar action against other failing schools or education authorities.