A MUM has vowed to keep her daughter from school unless she can go to the secondary school of her choice.

More than 300 children in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, moving from primary to secondary school have not been allocated their preferred school.

Linda Holmes, of Cemetery Road, Padiham, said she was disgusted when she opened the letter which said Laura should go to Edge End School in Nelson.

She said: "My older daughter Carrie went to Habergham High School but she left last year. I asked for Habergham first and St Christopher's in Accrington second, and wrote a letter explaining that Carrie had attended Habergham. "There is no way she is going to Edge End. I have already sent the letter back and asked for an appeal form."

Mrs Holmes said Laura, who will be 11 in May and currently attends Padiham Green CP School, didn't even know where Edge End was.

She added: "You just want the best for your children and there is no other school locally to match the results of Habergham. If she can't get into Habergham or St Christopher's then she stays at home."

Mansfield High School, Brierfield, has been over subscribed by 129 and also in Pendle 55 pupils were not given a place at Colne's Park High.

In Burnley, Habergham High was oversubscribed by 34 and Ivy Bank by 66. In Rossendale, Haslingden High School was oversubscribed by 15 and Alder Grange High in Rawtenstall by 24.

Eleven leavers from St James' School, Lanehead, were given their second choice and nine children didn't get a place at either their first or second choice schools.

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