A MUM has hit out at Glasgow City Council after a placing request refusal leaves her managing four children at three different schools.

Sharlene Farrell’s youngest son, Ace, is due to start primary one in August and Sharlene had expected him to go to Quarrybrae Primary like his older siblings.

But education bosses declined her placing request for the four-year-old.

Instead, he is expected to go to Dalmarnock Primary, which Sharlene says is more than a 20 minute walk.

And if she drops her nine-year-old daughter at Quarrybrae first, it will mean a 55 minute walk for the little one.

Her eldest son, aged 16, goes to Eastbank Academy and her older daughter is starting first year there in August.

Sharlene said: “I’m going to have to choose which child sits outside the school waiting in the morning and at the end of the day.

“I don’t want that for either of them. I also can’t afford to be paying for breakfast clubs each day either.

“I work full time so my mum, who is 74, picks them up after school and it’s too much for her too.

“Their dad works full time and leaves for work early in the morning so there’s no way round it.”

The family lives in Parkhead, less than five minutes walk from Quarrybrae Primary.

But their home sits in the catchment area for Dalmarnock Primary, which Sharlene says is about seven minutes by car and around 20 on foot with a child.

Sharlene first applied for a placing request in January this year but was, to her surprise, rejected.

Council officials told her Quarrybrae is at capacity and there is no room for her son.

Sharlene appealed and her case went to a panel at Glasgow City Chambers, where Sharlene had to give evidence.

Her case was again rejected.

Sharlene added: “This leaves my family in an impossible position.

“My nine-year-old daughter can’t move schools at this stage in her education and leave all of her friends.

“I went to Quarrybrae and so did my sister.

“Ace knows all the teachers and he knows his way around the school.

“Denver’s friends all have younger brothers and sisters coming to the school after the holidays and she wants to know why her little brother isn’t coming too.

“My older daughter will have her big brother at Eastbank Academy to look out for her and it would make such a difference to Ace to know that his big sister is there for him too.”

As a back up measure, Sharlene has also applied for a placing request for Ace at Wellshot Primary, which is slightly closure.

She now must phone Quarrybrae and Wellshot on August 13 - two days before school starts back - to find out if her son has a place at either school.

A council spokeswoman said: “Unfortunately with placing requests and future siblings, there are simply no guarantees of a school place and it will all depend on the current school roll and number of catchment children starting school.

“We know that this can be very upsetting for families, but the school is at capacity and all placing requests - and in some cases catchment children - have been refused to Quarrybrae Primary school for the beginning of term until spaces become available.

“The new school in Dalmarnock - Riverbank Primary school - is opening in 2019 and will give families an alternative option in this area of the city.”

Council bosses are currently consulting on proposed changes to catchment areas for secondary schools.

The plan is to create one key criteria for each of the 30 secondaries across the city.