A MUM whose son failed to get into Wade Deacon to join his two siblings has criticised the school for taking Everton Academy students who live outside Halton.

Mum-of-four Christine Summer, aged 39 from Ditton lodged an appeal after her 11-year-old son, Charlie was refused a place.

She wanted him to join his 13-year-old sister, Sydney and brother, Alfie, aged 13 who are already at the school.

Charlie lost his appeal and will now be going to Ormiston Chadwick Academy.

Christine, of Cherry Sutton, said:”I am gutted.

“Why are these paying children from Everton Academy taking priority?

“My son lives in Widnes and can’t have a place, yet a boy from Leeds gets in.

“It makes no sense at all.”

She said her son was one of 56 children whose appeals were heard at the Select Stadium.

Christine said: “They told us we were all fighting for one place.

“It is heartbreaking.

“It means I am unable to give all my children the same quality of education and the same opportunities.

“We need to stand up for places for children who have been born and bred in the borough.

“Nobody should be paying and getting preferential treatment over our children.”

She fears her seven-year-old daughter, Francesca, a pupil at Ditton Primary School, may not win a place either.

Ian Kirkham, head of Academy Operations at Wade Deacon, said: “The school has an existing service level agreement with Everton FC and Halton Council.

“It is a clear separation that is totally independent of the school’s planned admissions number.

“I would emphasise that the agreements do not prevent any student gaining a place in years 7, 8, 9, 10 or 11 as they are not included in the allocation that fills 300 places to the planned admission number.”

He said the appeals panel is independent and can exercise its discretion to admit additional pupils.

So far, he said 11 appeals had been upheld.