Austin Gillingham was looking forward to starting at Preston School Academy in Yeovil at the beginning of September, and would be able to catch the school bus from right outside his house. The couple made their plea when the council's children and families scrutiny committee met in Taunton on Monday afternoon (September 22). But on July 9 - just eight weeks before Austin was due to start secondary school - the family was informed that Preston School was not his allocated catchment school, leading to "total shock and confusion". "Not only does the school bus past our front door twice daily, but Preston and Westfield can often be seen often sharing the very same bus. "We are forced to leave at the same time as the school bus, the irony being to avoid traffic, and then drive in 'convoy' behind the bus.