School fiasco will go on for weeks

Parents left without school places for their children face weeks of uncertainty, it was revealed today.

Education chiefs admit that computer glitches mean thousands of places that should have been allocated by 1 March are still unfilled.

The organisation behind the scheme today even blamed parents for the ongoing delays.

"The biggest problem we are facing is parents who have been allocated multiple places," said a spokesman for the Pan-London Admissions System (PLAS).

"It is going to take us a couple of weeks at least before every child has a place. We would ask all parents to quickly decide which school they want their child to go to, and let all the authorities who have offered them a place know their decision as soon as possible."

Parents have until tomorrow to decide whether to accept or reject the offers. Schools affected by the glitch have resorted to sending letters to each other to relay information on the number of places left.

This has resulted in many parents receiving offers from several schools, tying up places while families make a decision. It is estimated that 2,300 pupils still do not know which school they will be attending.

The companies who supplied the affected software also came under fire. "We are very disappointed with Capita's performance," said the PLAS spokesman. We will work with Capita next year to ensure things run more smoothly - if they are still supplying the software to local education authorities."

The company contracted to run the ?1.5 million system, Berkshirebased Arete Software, refused to comment. However, it has previously said it holds Capita responsible for the glitch.

Only five of the 13 boroughs using software from Capita were able to use the system. But Capita has reacted angrily to criticism, saying Arete is at fault.