Leeds parents to stage protest rally over “school places blackhole”

A campaign group has been formed after at least 80 parents in the North of the city were not offered a place at any of their preferred schools - despite opting to go to their nearest primaries.

Parents have raised their plight with Prime Minister David Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne during the General Election campaign but are still pushing for places and answers from Leeds City Council. A rally is being held on Millennium Square from noon on Monday - which is the deadline for parents to appeal against their place allocation.

Campaigners are from the affected areas in Roundhay, Moortown and Alwoodley.

The council has said it is holding talks with local schools to find more places. Gledhow Primary has agreed to take on another 30 pupils from this September. It had been due to expand in 2016 to become a three-form entry but has agreed to bring this forward.

Coun Judith Blake Leeds City Council’s leader elect said: “We are pleased to have secured an extra 30 extra places and we are giving this the highest priority. Talks with other schools are ongoing and we hope to be able to update parents with solutions as soon as we possibly can.” Campaigners have warned the Gledhow spaces will not benefit some of them and might result in parents not in the “blackhole” moving their children out of other schools.

One of the parents Oliver Thorne said: “We are holding a rally and submitting our appeals together to mark the scale of the catastrophy the council have let unfold.”