ACADEMIA has turned into a real family affair for all four Brookes sisters who attend the same Loughton school the first time the feat has been achieved in its 67 year history.

Mum Tracey Brookes now has the relatively easy task of taking Katia, three, Matilda, six, Isabella, eight and Francesca, ten, from the family home in Spareleaze Hill, Loughton, to Oaklands School in Albion Hill all at the same time.

The unusual situation arose when Katia started at Oaklands after finishing at preschool in Chingford. Mrs Brookes said: "To have them all at the same school is excellent. It makes life a lot easier.

"They're thrilled that Katia has joined them. Francesca is a prefect and she sometimes nips in to Katia's class to give her a kiss when she gets the chance."

Headteacher Pam Simmonds confirms that this is the first time that four members of the same family have attended Oaklands at the same time since the school opened in 1937.

She said: "We've had four siblings from the same family who have all gone through the school but we've never had four being taught at the school at the same time.

"They're in very different age groups. Katia, the youngest, is in the lower kindergarten while the oldest, Francesca, is in Year 6 our oldest year group.

"They don't spend much time together at school because we stagger our break times.

"But it's very nice to have them all here at the same time."