I have just read an article in the Streatham Guardian about the shortage of school places in Lambeth.

My son was turned down by eight schools, he sat eight tests and attended eight interviews. He had no school place by the end of the summer term 2001. He had no school for September. He felt he was useless and not clever enough. He felt a failure.

I spoke to someone in Lambeths education department who said she could not help me find a place for him in the borough as all places had gone. She suggested I ring round schools in neighbouring boroughs to see if any had places available.

Merton had one place in year seven, and Croydon had a few places. We accepted a place in New Addington at Addington High School. My son leaves home at 6.30am every morning to catch a bus into Croydon and then the tram. This means he has a two- hour journey to and from school everyday. Lambeth has refused to pay for a travel card as he does not go to school in Lambeth.

We live 10 minutes from two schools which would not accept him.

He is on a waiting list at eight schools but will never get a place at these schools.

He found the whole experience stressful and worries about whether or not there will be enough college places for his year group.

He is happy at his school but the trauma of finding a school place is nerve racking. I started this process before he was in year five and still couldnt get him a place.

NAME AND ADDRESS

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