THE family of a ten-year-old girl has been left feeling 'devastated' after she missed out on a secondary school place.

Dad of two, Dale Kenvyn said he was shocked to discover his daughter Drew was one of 100 youngsters to miss out when Middlesbrough Council broke the news on Friday that the town’s secondary schools were completely full as a result of 'unprecedented demand'.

“We’ve been informed today that they’re not going to give us any school,” said the 30-year-old.

“This is robbing her of her education. We rang up and they said the only schools she can go to are in Redcar or Stockton – the only other option is to home school her.

“How am I meant to explain this to her?

“Drew is a good kid, she’s a dedicated dancer – she dances in championships up and down the country – she would be a credit to any school.

“She’s about to sit her SATs, it’s her birthday next week – all her friends are celebrating which school they got in to.

“The council told us they didn’t expect the schools to be so full. They must have had some idea.

"How come my daughter who has lived in Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, all her life can’t get a place in her own town?"

Andrea Williams, the council’s director of education, said: “We have unprecedented numbers of children requiring places in Middlesbrough schools which could not have been foreseen, and clearly this is a matter of considerable concern.

“We are working hard to resolve the situation, and I’m grateful to parents for their patience and understanding.”