An 11-year-old girl from Chart Sutton has been denied a free bus pass to travel to her grammar school because a comprehensive is closer to her home address.

Klara Powell passed her 11+ before leaving Chart Sutton Primary School last week and was granted a place at Maidstone Grammar School for Girls, on Buckland Road, seven miles away from her home on Chart Hill Road.

Kent County Council however has refused to allow her to use a free bus pass because Cornwallis Academy is three miles away.

Last September a policy that only awards free bus passes to pupils attending the school closest to their home came into force.

MGGS is the closest grammar school to Klara and older sister Serena, aged 13, receives a free pass from the council because she joined the school in September 2011.

Mother Jo-Anne Grey, 42, said: “It’s very strange, I appealed against the decision by letter but it seems that the council will not budge from their position.

“The council promotes a grammar school system, so it seems hypocritical that they don’t take this into account when it comes to handing out bus passes.

“Klara is going to the closest grammar school, which she is clever enough to attend. I can’t get my head around this.”

Instead of receiving free travel Miss Grey has forked out £100 to pay for a one year freedom pass, which is heavily subsidised by the council and allows children aged 11-16 unlimited free bus travel.

The council told the Kent Messenger that it spends £12.5 million on the scheme each year and a combined total of £68 million on transport services.

The council’s transport guide states the nearest appropriate school for transport purposes is the nearest geographical one that is suitable for a child’s age and ability.

It goes on to say that an offer of a place at a grammar school does not determine that transport will be provided if an alternative mainstream school or academy is closer to the home.