Yasine Akhtar has been told his 11-year-old daughter Bashira has been allotted a place at Cedar Mount High School, Gorton.
But that would mean taking two buses from her Fallowfield home.
Bashira is upset she cannot join her pals from Mauldeth Road Primary School at Parrs Wood Technology College or Whalley Range High School for Girls - the schools to which the family applied.
Because of her distress and fears for her safety, Mr Akhtar has decided Bashira is not going to school this week, but will stay at home where he will teach her the best he can.
"I don't think that for her - an 11-year-old girl - to travel on two buses every day is safe,'' he claimed.
"I know I could be breaking the law, but I can't send her to another school. I think that would really affect her."
A city education department spokesman said: "We meet parental preference as much as we can, but it isn't always possible."
Tweet