Parent claims 'there is no choice' as sought-after schools shun 11-year-old

Eleven-year-old Sam Brawn is still without a secondary school place for September after being rejected by three schools in Lewisham, south London.

His parents appealed unsuccessfully to all three schools and are now considering keeping him at home in September, rather than send him to a secondary they are not happy with.

Sam said: "I think it's really bad. It's ludicrous if children are not being given secondary school places. It's nearly the holidays and I'm the only one left in my class who hasn't got a place.

"I am worried about it because I don't know what will happen to me in September."

Sam applied to two city technology colleges, Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College and Bacon's College, and was rejected by both schools. He was also turned down by Forest Hill School, a successful boys' comprehensive.

His mother, Liz, is now considering keeping Sam at home in September rather than send him to the school that has been allocated to him by the local education authority. It is 3.5 miles away and will involve a long and difficult bus journey

She said: "I am appalled by the situation. Finding a secondary school place in Lewisham has been a real problem for many years but has now reached a real crisis.

"Our local school is Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College so when we moved here I thought this would be a great place for schools. But the reality is very, very different. There is no real parental choice. There is an extremely low chance of getting a place at one of these sought-after schools.

"Sam has been worrying about getting a secondary school place for the whole year. He saw this happen last year to the class above him and now it's happened to him.

"The appeals were horrendous. I was very nervous and found it a bit daunting. The only solution is to have more good local community schools which accept the children who live near by. Allowing schools to pick and choose the children they want has created a chaotic situation."