Education's double blunder causes family 11-plus misery

The mother-of-two has revealed how the 'administration error' within the department earlier this year has caused the family months of anguish.

Her 11-year-old daughter was incorrectly awarded a college scholarship in a letter on results day in April, as part of a mistake that led to a full investigation and disciplinary procedures.

The mother, who does not want to reveal her daughter's identity, said she was called up the same day as receiving the congratulatory letter, to be told that too many scholarships had been awarded and her daughter must instead go to the Grammar.

However, after some protest, she was called back up within an hour to be told Education would backtrack and honour the place at Ladies' College.

The family went on holiday the next day, on the understanding that the saga was resolved and that the 11-year-old's place was secure, only for Education to try to call while they were away to retract the offer for the second time.

'I have no faith in the Education department any more,' she said. 'They have never once asked how my daughter is. They never even explained to her what happened.'

'It did ruin my holiday as well. I spent most of the time sending emails, running around and trying to sort it out.

'We were on the other side of the world and with the time difference, we were trying to arrange conversations at ridiculous times of the day.

While the family were on holiday, the pupil's grandmother tried to plead with Education at a specially arranged meeting.

The family then employed an advocate in a bid to reverse the decision, but the department refused to budge.

The mother said they have now paid fees of around £8,000 for her daughter to go to Ladies' College, because they could not bear to break her dream.