Twin girls could be sent to separate schools due to class size pressure in Sutton.

Last week the Sutton Guardian revealed the squeeze on primary schools led to Sutton’s chief executive, Niall Bolger, controversially calling for a change in class size policy.

Highlighting this problem are seven-year-old twins Mia and Hannah Hendry who have been waiting for four years for a primary school place in Sutton.

They currently go to primary school in Streatham Common where they lived before moving to Sutton in July 2008.

There is one space available in a class at All Saints Church of England School in Carshalton which was offered to Mia.

However, her family rejected it to avoid splitting up the girls.

Her sister Hannah, who was next on the waiting list, was then offered the place.

Her parents are still deciding what to do after their appeal for both girls to attend the school was rejected.

Their father, Phil Hendry, 46, from Wallington said: “They won’t go to 36; even though they have six tables of six and 36 chairs.

“They told us they can’t go to 36 because the part-time teaching assistant sits there; even though it is a child’s chair.

“We’ve sat on a waiting list for all four of our preferred schools; we’ve been through four years of hell trying to find a place in Sutton.

“The school says going to 36 will raise health and safety issues and would supposedly 'massively disadvantage' all the other children in the school.

“Our nearest school; Bandon Hill we were fifth and sixth on the waiting list four years ago and now we are second and third."

There are schools which will take the girls but Mr Hendry said they were not as practical and like any parent he wants to send his children to the best local school within a reasonable distance.

Councillor Kirsty Jerome, executive member for education and schools at Sutton Council, said: “We appreciate Mr Hendry’s frustration and wish it were possible to offer both twins a place but Sutton has some of the best schools in the country and this is a very popular school with just one form of entry.

“Finding two spaces in one year group at All Saints Carshalton is very rare so it’s not always possible for parents who move during the school year to get a place at their first choice school.

“We’ve invested millions to cope with London’s baby boom and this school is one of the five primary schools we are expanding this year - and we will continue to call on the Government to provide more funding for schools in London.”