A DESPERATE mother has hit out at the education authority after her daughter was refused a place at nine schools.

June Mallett has been unable to get her 14-year-old daughter Chloe's name on the school register since moving to West Wickham last December.

In a letter from Bromley Council's education authority dated January 11, the mother-of-three was advised to apply to Cator Park School for Girls, Lennard Road, Beckenham, and the Priory School, Tintagel Road, Orpington.

Following a catalogue of rejection letters, Mrs Mallett of Crossways Road, Beckenham, says she felt reassured the council had at least offered her some options to try.

But to her surprise, when she called the suggested schools she was told there was no space for Chloe.

Mrs Mallett, 49, said: "It's a farce. It appears the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing.

"I was advised by the education authority of schools with free spaces.

"When I called them, I was turned away and told there were waiting lists."

She added: "My daughter can't wait any longer. She's been out of education for too long.

"She's a bright girl but she struggles with maths and I'm desperately worried the time off will have set her back."

Education sources suggest there is a particular strain on Year 9 places across the borough's schools, which is the school year Chloe needs to enter.

In a meeting last week, Mrs Mallett and Chloe met with ward councillor Peter Dean to tell him of their experience.

Mrs Mallett said: "Chloe was welling up and told him, please find me a school'. He has reassured us he will be looking into it as a matter of urgency."

A council spokesman said he could not comment on individual cases but added: "We understand the anxiety caused by uncertainty and have every sympathy with parents in this position, but Bromley's schools are extremely popular."