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Limited choice for Whitkirk families over alternative school places
An admissions shake-up will limit the number of appeals for Whitkirk families unhappy with their allocated schools. Click here for full details.
From today, Government changes mean parents will no longer be able to request unlimited appeals for classroom places at schools across the city.
Instead, they will be limited to a maximum of just three appeals – all of which must have been their first, second or third preferences.
Furthermore, if they have not indicated their local school as one of those three allowed preferences, they will not be allowed to appeal for that school either. As a result, their children could be allocated a place miles away, at less popular schools with vacancies.
Leeds City councillor Richard Harker, Leeds City Council executive board member for learning, said: "Choosing which school you want your child to go to is an important decision, so we are supporting families by making the process as fair and simple possible.
"Our admissions system has been independently judged as fair and easy to understand, and thousands of families have already used our online facility since it was introduced last year."
He continued: "While we cannot offer any guarantees about first choices, we do stress that filling in all three preferences, including your local school, is vital to avoid disappointment."
In total, 16,000 preference forms are being sent to parents across Leeds.
In theory, they can opt for any of the city's 39 high schools, but in reality, their choice is limited, with 19 of those schools oversubscribed last year.
Click here for the low down on school admissions myths.
There were several "hotspots" including Temple Moor High, which had 247 first preferences for the school's 210 places in Year 7.
Compare that to John Smeaton Community High which had 77 first preferences for the school's 180 places in Year 7.
Preference forms, which can also be completed online at www.educationleeds.co.uk/admissions, must be completed by October 19. Offer letters will be posted or emailed to parents on March 1 next year.
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Weather for Leeds
Tuesday 22 May 2012
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Temperature: 9 C to 23 C
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