Two Leeds schools expand to tackle primary '˜black hole'

The new reception places agreed at Moor Allerton Hall and Allerton C of E primary schools will be ‘bulge’ cohorts, which means they will both admit 90 children in reception this year, rather than the current 60 – 30 extra pupils each.

Roundhay parent Katy Kelly, whose daughter has been allocated a place at Moor Allerton Hall in September, said the news was “bitter sweet”.

She said: “I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand I feel we are supposed to feel really happy about the outcome, but on the other hand the council made this mess in the first place.

“I think the council is not out of the woods yet in terms of parent responses - not everyone is going to be happy with their allocations - but it has fulfilled its obligation to offer two good schools.”

The additional places will be allocated in line with the published admissions policy for Leeds community and voluntary-controlled schools.

Councillor Lisa Mulherin, executive member for children and families, said: “We are very grateful to all of the schools across the city, which have been open to negotiations around taking extra pupils in both the long and short term. “It is very pleasing that the learning community is working together with the local authority to ensure that we have enough good quality school places for children in city, to help us continue to tackle the increasing demand for school places in our growing city and in particular in this area of Leeds.”