HUNDREDS of children were still without a secondary school place less than four months before the start of term.

New figures reveal 229 pupils in Lewisham did not have a school to go to next year, as of May 20, with only 126 places left in the borough.

Now an education campaigner has attacked Lewisham Council's "appalling failure" to meet the shortfall in school places.

Of 12 secondary schools in the borough, 10 had already filled their allocation for next year.

This left just Catford Business and Enterprise College, Catford, with 66 places and St Joseph's Academy, Blackheath, with 60.

Four years ago Councillor Helen Le Fevre helped set up Local Education Action by Parents (LEAP).

The single-issue party has long campaigned for a new school in the north of the borough and Cllr Le Fevre believes the latest figures underline the need for this.

She said: "I am deeply shocked by this council's appalling failure to deliver enough school places.

"It is time we stopped messing around.

"Let's be ambitious and build a new school in the right place and make sure it is big enough."

This year was the first under a new system designed to make the admissions process fairer.

It required parents to list up to six favoured schools in order of preference, with everyone given their offers on March 1.

Andy McGuire, of Ellerdale Street, Lewisham, has had problems finding a school for his 11-year-old son Jack.

He says the new selection system has created more problems than it has solved.

Mr McGuire, 37, said: "It has been the worst experience of my life. We need better information and desperately need a new school sooner rather than later."

A council spokesman said the 229 children have now all been offered a place. Some of these at schools outside the borough and others at independent schools.

l Are you struggling to find your child a school place? Call us on 01689 885712.