A 10-YEAR-OLD pupil from Bradford is "heartbroken" after he did not get any of the five preferred high schools he applied for.

Isaac Ashraf, who lives with his family on Bronshill Grove in Allerton and attends Margaret McMillan Primary School, was given Dixons Cottingley Academy, despite having one option that was a 15 minute walk away from home.

The school he was allocated is over an hour's walk away from his house or a 15 minute drive away by car.

He applied for Dixons Allerton Academy, Beckfoot School in Bingley, Bingley Grammar School, Beckfoot Thornton School and St Bede's & St Josephs Catholic College.

The Ashraf family got in touch with the Telegraph & Argus after seeing an article which said 80 per cent of students in Bradford district got their preferred school.

Dad Waheed Ashraf has since criticised the council's school allocation process after consoling his son at night who worries about the future.

He says he kept in touch with the school at all times and notified the council when they moved away from Duckworth Grove in Girlington.

Mr Ashraf, who works near Wakefield, told the Telegraph & Argus: "I hold down two jobs. I've been allocated a school which is going to cause me an inconvenience - a great deal of inconvenience.

"My child is visually impaired. Not only that I also have a younger child who is three year's old.

"I don't have access to a car, neither does my wife.

"There's no way, it's practically impossible.

"I have approached the council and they have advised that I should make an appeal but even then my chances are slim.

"I get up at five o clock in the morning and get home about eight o clock.

"I'm not feeling optimistic. I'm feeling let down. I put down five schools and I didn't get any of them.

"I pay my fair share of my taxes, I don't get any benefits. This is pathetic.

"The council needs to be held accountable.

"All last night he was crying.

"It broke my heart to see my child crying. I thought 'What am I to do?'."

Bradford Council responded to this case by saying they understand it can be "disappointing" when a child doesn't get their preferred school.

But it said its admission policy is 'clear'.

Responding to the Ashraf family's concerns, a spokesperson for Bradford Council explained: “We can’t comment on individual cases but we do understand that it can be disappointing for a family when a child does not get their preferred school.

"We do make sure parents are aware in advance of school place allocations where there are issues around addresses that would affect allocations.

"The criteria for admissions are very clear and they are ones the Council has to follow so that we can make sure we are being as fair as possible to all children across the district.”

The deadline for parents to submit an appeal is March 30.

Appeals received by the deadline date are to be heard within 40 school days -June 16. The last appeal date is w/c July 13.