AN eleven-year-old girl has been left without a school after a dispute with education chiefs.

Rachel Park has yet to start secondary school in Darlington after her mother was told that the youngster had to attend Haughton Comprehensive School this year.

Her mother, Debra Lough, appealed against the decision because she wanted Rachel to attend Longfield Comprehensive School.

Council officials said the school had its full quota of pupils and there was no space for Rachel.

Ms Lough, who lives off North Road, said: "She is the only one in the street who is not going over there with her friends.

"Sometimes, I'm not able to get out of the house and can't get her over there every day.

"She is top of her year in English and has never had a day off school. If she had medical reasons or was a slow learner she would probably get in."

However, a spokesman for Darlington Borough Council said Rachel had not met the admissions criteria.

"There were 238 parents who had chosen Longfield as their first preference and 180 available spaces," he said.

"Eighty-three went in because they had brothers and sisters at the school and 97 lived nearer than Rachel."