HUNDREDS of desperate parents across Manchester are still waiting to hear if their children have been awarded places at their first-choice schools - a day before the start of term.
Although most children have been allocated places at the city's schools, the council has a backlog of 479 appeals from parents dissatisfied with the school their children attend or have been allocated.
And parents lodging 300 of those appeals still haven't even been given a date when they will be able to put their case.
Blackley MP Graham Stringer believes the backlog is causing intolerable distress to children and parents across the city.
"I think this is appalling and the council needs to take urgent action," he said.
"I don't think it's justifiable to hold appeals after the start of term. It is a completely unacceptable situation. Going to a new school is stressful for parents and pupils alike. Not knowing which school you are going to increases that stress massively."
According to the council, 127 of the outstanding appeals relate to youngsters who are about to make the daunting move from primary to secondary school, and 56 are for children aged between five and seven.
Desperation
Of the remaining 350 appeals, some pupils will have recently moved intro the area or are so dissatisfied with their existing schools that they are desperate to move - despite the trauma and disruption involved.
Roger Fielding, clerk to the independent appeals panel, says appeals are dealt with as quickly as they receive the information they need from the local education authority.
"There is a backlog," he said. "We have had more appeals this year than ever before. At this point last year we had received 856 - this year we have 925."
Chief education officer David Johnston says that although parents are still waiting for the outcome of appeals, most pupils have already been offered places.