A MOTHER has labelled a council's schools admissions policy as "pathetic" after her daughter was refused a place at a school down the road.

Noorjahan Karbhari's three older children all attended Wensley Fold Primary, in Blackburn, about 300 yards away from their Manor Road home.

But because they have now all left primary school, when Mrs Karbhari and her husband, Yunas, applied to send their four-year-old daughter Fatimah to Wensley Fold, one of the borough's best performing primary schools, they were refused.

Blackburn with Darwen Council said its admission policy is to offer places in the following priority order - children with special educational needs; siblings; children with medical/social needs; proximity to the school.

Medical and social needs could include conditions such as asthma, or mobility problems, but all cases must be verified and backed up by a professional.

Mrs Karbhari is now having to buy a car in order to take her daughter to a different school.

She said: "This whole thing has been a nightmare, and I want other parents to be aware of what we've been through and how wrong the council's system is.

"When we applied for Wensley, we were told the school was full.

"We took it to appeal because we wanted to make a point.

"We knew we had a slim chance because we were told the authority had adhered to criteria. Well those criteria are clearly wrong.

"We were then offered a place at St Luke's and St Phillip's Primary, which is about 15 minutes away, too far to walk.

"We've also received racial abuse in that area, so there was no way I was sending my daughter there.

"So we got her a place at St Francis' Primary in Cherry Tree.

"When I take her to school we go past houses of families that go to Wensley Fold, who live nearer to St Francis. It's ridiculous."

Mrs Karbhari, who works at Job Centre Plus, Blackburn, said: "We can't really afford to get another car, but we've been left with no choice.

"I'm happy with St Francis. It's a good school, but I've had to go through so much. It's been months of hassle and worry."

The appeal panel is bound by the law on class sizes, which says classes of four to seven-year- olds taught by a single teacher cannot have more than 30 pupils.

"If a class is already full, the panel cannot overturn the decision to refuse a place unless it is proved that a mistake has been made in the admissions process.

Peter Morgan, strategic director of children's services, said: "This year, I am pleased to say that the vast majority of children in Blackburn with Darwen - 95per cent - got a place at their first preference community school.

"Unfortunately, it is not always possible to offer a place at a first or second preference school if the school is oversubscribed.

"We always work closely with parents to help them find a school for their child that they are happy with."