CHIPPENHAM parents Steve and Celia Evans fear for the future of their son, who has not attended school for a year and a half.

The Evans family, from Ladyfield Road, moved to Chippenham from Swindon in June 1999, but still cannot find a local school with a place for George, 14.

Sheldon and Hardenhuish schools in Chippenham, and George Ward School in Melksham, have all said they have no room for him.

Numerous appeals and new applications have proved useless causing Mr and Mrs Evans fear for George's long- term prospects and present well being.

"We are stressed out most of the time," said Mr Evans, an unemployed coach driver. "George is bored at home, and can't go out during the day because people think he's playing truant.

"The local police know he's not in school but we have to give him a note if he goes into town so security staff don't stop him."

George, who has a statement of Special Educational Needs, has a tutor for two hours twice a week, provided by Wiltshire County Council's education department.

But his statement recommends he is educated in a mainstream school so he cannot secure a place at an SEN school.

Sheldon head teacher Tony Cleaver told the Evans' he did not think education in a mainstream school was in George's best interest and Sheldon's admissions panel advised them the year group was full.

George, who wants to join the police force when he is older, said life at home was boring. His parents fear he is also missing out on the social side of school .

A spokesman for Wiltshire County Council said the local education authority was not in a position to insist schools accepted pupils.

She said the county council was fulfiling its obligation to provide an education for George by providing the home tutor.

"If the governing bodies are refusing this child we can not force them to take him," she said.