Eight children are still without secondary school places 11 weeks into the autumn term and council lawyers are now preparing to take legal action against their parents.

The school places crisis described as the worst in Sutton for 15 years by MP Paul Burstow was first exposed in the Comet last month when 18 of Sutton's 11 year olds were without places.

At the time, the Comet was told all secondary schools were full. But within a week, five children were offered places at Glenthorne a move which critics are likely to blame for burgeoning class sizes.

Although 10 have now accepted places in the borough and elsewhere, eight have not been in a classroom since July. The council says all eight were made reasonable offers, which were refused. As a result, parents will face legal action over school attendance.

The father of one boy, who asked not to be named, is trying to educate his son at home, but is finding it an isolating experience.

"We are doing the best we can," he said. "But I can't find that much information about the National Curriculum. People ask if you have a school for him. They think it's our fault, but I have lived in the borough for 30 years and all we have asked for is a mixed school nearby."

He said he was concerned about legal action, but had not received any legal notices so far.

Education director Ian Birnbaum said: "Seven of the eight children have been offered a school closer than some of the schools included in the parents' list of preferences."

He added home tuition is for children out of school for reasons other than parents deciding not to send them to school. Parents have the right to educate their children at home, but must make their own arrangements and the council does offer advice, he said.

Young Antonia Sneddon was one of the 10 who went without schooling for seven weeks. Her mother Suzette is relieved to have found her a place in Reigate, but argues she was placed in a Catch-22 situation.

"I feel very let down by the education department. If you do not accept a place, they ask if you are educating your child at home and you can't say no. Then they say it's out of our hands," she said.

While Sutton and Cheam MP Paul Burstow accepts little more can be done for this year's children, there is hope for next year's influx.

Plans are afoot for a new comprehensive-sized Church of England school in Morden which, he says, would take pupils from Sutton as well as Morden.

p The father educating his son at home is urging parents of the other seven children to contact the Comet on the above email address to co-ordinate activities and share ideas on home tuition.

November 16, 2001 12:01