Swallow Hill Community College, which will cater for 1,200 youngsters, is being built off Congress Mount in Armley. It will replace West Leeds High and Wortley High, which are to merge next summer.

Between them, the two existing schools have 1,637 pupils. As a result, Education Leeds intends to put 437 of the youngest children in the Wortley building, which would become an annexe of the main site.

The proposal has been slammed by Leeds City councillor Janet Harper, (Lab, Armley), who said:

"I'm absolutely devastated about what is happening to these two schools, and disgusted with Education Leeds. We told them a long time ago that the new school would not be big enough. They just didn't listen. The young people of Armley and Wortley will suffer as a result of this crass and stupid decision."

Building Schools for the Future programme director Jackie Green said there was "flex" in the system and parents had the option of applying to other schools in west Leeds.

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