A YEAR seven pupil has been left with a delayed start to the school year after her appeal against her high school place was not successful.

Lauren Whittaker was devastated when she applied for her daughter to attend Winsford Academy but she was not given a place because it was oversubscribed.

Lauren says the school she has been offered is too far away to travel to because of her daughter’s mental health.

Lauren said: “I applied for my daughter to go to the Academy.

“She has been to Winsford High Street Primary School, which is a feeder school, since reception so I didn’t think it would have been a problem, but she was declined a place because it was oversubscribed.

“They added 30 extra places which she still missed out on.

“They had offered her St Nicholas Catholic High School in Hartford which I declined because she suffers with anxiety and depression and she couldn’t go to a school that far away, not knowing anyone for support.

“I also had a letter from Cheshire West Council saying I couldn’t have help with transport costs because a school closer could have offered her a place.”

Lauren appealed the decision but lost, and has been told she will have to send her daughter to a different high school until a place at Winsford Academy potentially becomes available.

Lauren added: “I’m a single parent and can’t afford to buy the uniform for one school and then for the Academy if a place becomes available.”

Lauren’s daughter has been referred to children and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), who have advised Lauren that travelling on a bus to a school outside of her community will make her daughter’s anxiety worse.

“So now when all the other children are going to school, my daughter doesn’t have a school to attend,” Lauren said.

“It’s made her mental health worse and mine. I can’t sleep or focus on anything.”

Gary Evans, principle at Winsford Academy, said: “The number of applications for admission in year seven was greater than the published admission number.

“Cheshire West and Chester local authority allocated the places in accordance with the published admissions oversubscription criteria.

“All students on the waiting list were allocated a school and have been advised to attend that school.”

Earlier in the year, figures revealed that 283 children applied to go to Winsford Academy this year.

After an extra 30 places were added, 17 disappointed children – including Lauren’s daughter – still could not be accommodated.