An 11-year-old will not be starting the new term with her old school friends because her mum missed the deadline for sending in the application form.

Jacqueline Robinson, from Macclesfield Road, South Norwood, missed the admissions deadline for applying for a place at Ashburton Community School for daughter Katie-Rose because the family was thinking of moving to Devon.

Although Mrs Robinson sent the form to Croydon Council before the second deadline by that time there were no places available at the school.

The council has offered a place at her next nearest school, Selsdon High in South Croydon, meaning Katie would have a longer trip to school and would not be able to study with her old school friends.

According to Mrs Robinson refusing the place at Selsdon High means she will now have to teach Katie from home in the hope that a place at Ashburton will become available.

She said: "Ashburton is a five-minute walk from our house and virtually all of Katie's friends are going there.

"She is very upset. She thought she was going to be starting school this week but she can't.

"I just want things sorted out. It is wrong that she has been affected in this way."

Mrs Robinson added: "Yesterday Monday some of Katie's friends knocked on the door to ask if she was ready to go to school. I had to tell them that she wouldn't be going. Katie is very upset."

Currently Katie is 12th on the waiting list for a place at the school but will be educated at home until a spot is available.

A council spokesman said: "Because we did not receive the application in time we were unable to offer a place at Ashburton.

"The original application sent in by Mrs Robinson was dated 10 December, when the deadline for the first round of admissions was October 24.

"By the second round there were no places available at Ashburton. A place was offered at the nearest school which had vacancies at the time."