Parents of the children say the holidays have been ruined

The parents and guardians of 12 children had initially won appeals against refusals of places at Caversham Primary School in Reading, Berkshire.

But Reading Borough Council challenged the appeal panel's decision.

Mr Justice Sullivan, sitting at the High Court on Thursday, ruled: "The panel's decisions must be quashed."

We have got no summer holidays, and we don't know where my daughter, Chloe, is going in September Claire Cummings

The parents of the four-year-olds said they now faced a summer of anxiety and disruption because of the mistakes made by the panel.

It had conceded that its members had failed to give sufficient reasons in their decision letters, and that they had also applied the wrong legal test.

Many will have to cancel summer holidays so they can attend fresh appeal hearings.

Mother-of-three Claire Cummings, of Badgers Rise, Caversham, said: "This is an appalling decision.

"We have got no summer holidays, and we don't know where my daughter, Chloe, is going in September."

The judge said he recognised that it was the holiday period, but he said it was essential that new appeals should be organised as quickly as possible.

A spokesman for the council said: "The council was concerned that the decisions made by the appeals panel would set a precedent that would have had a massive impact on the education budget in Reading, diverting resources that would otherwise go to improve local children's education.