Parents in protest over school places
EDUCATION: Parents in Leeds who say they live in a school places black hole have staged a rally to highlight their campaign as it emerged that Education Sectretary Nicky Morgan wants talks with council bosses over the situation. A campaign has started in the Roundhay, Moortown and Alwoodley. areas.
PARENTS IN Leeds who say they live in a school places black hole have staged a rally to highlight their campaign as it emerged that Education Secretary Nicky Morgan wants talks with council bosses over the situation.
A campaign has started in the Roundhay, Moortown and Alwoodley areas after a group of parents missed out on places at their preferred primary schools last month. Dozens gathered in the city centre yesterday in a rally to coincide with the deadline for parents wanting to appeal primary school place allocations.
Campaigner Beccy Rayner, from Roundhay, said: “The turnout was very good, we made a lot of noise and we were able to tell people about our situation.
“The council say they are aware of the situation and discussions are ongoing but it just makes us think: ‘How are these discussions still ongoing now? The council had the numbers. They knew about this problem.”
Talks between Leeds City Council and Gledhow Primary resulted in 30 more places being offered this September. Council leader Coun Judith Blake said the council was working with local schools to find solutions. She said the council was unable to open and run new community schools or say where free schools should be allocated.