Furious parents to protest in Middleton over Leeds school admissions row

The parents, who are mainly from south Leeds, were left in disarray when their children were allocated secondary school places over an hour's journey away by public transport.

Despite Leeds Council allocating 60 new places at Cockburn School in Beeston today, the parents say more needs to be done to address the 'failing' school admissions system in Leeds.

Wayne Dixon is spearheading Saturday's demonstration, planned outside St George's Centre in Middleton at 11am to coincide with MP Hilary Benn's advice surgery.

Wayne said: “The protest is still going ahead because we think until the council puts it in writing that it’s our kids who will get these places, it’s still up in the air.

“We’ve asked if they will reassess the system, look at the realignment of school clusters and at putting safeguarding policies in place.

“We haven't had a response to all these questions and instead they've just announced these 60 places - which doesn't help children in north Leeds."

MP Hilary Benn said it was "unacceptable" that some children in his constituency would have to travel over an hour to school by bus and urged the Department of Education to fund extra school places in the south of the city.

The Leeds Central MP added: "I welcome the news that 60 additional places are going to be allocated at Cockburn School.

“It should ease the understandable worries of a lot of parents, some of whom have got in touch with me. Travelling three miles by bus to school is unacceptable.

"But this is an ongoing problem relating to a shortage of school places."

The Lawrence Calvert Free School was unable to open its doors as planned in September 2020 due to circumstances 'outside the council's control'.

A Leeds City Council spokesman told the Yorkshire Evening Post the council is doing "everything it can to bring about solutions" despite the "significant ongoing financial challenges and increasing demand for school places".

Announcing the 60 new places in a joint statement, Cllr Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council and David Gurney, Executive Headteacher of Cockburn School, said: "We would firstly like to thank families across south Leeds for their patience and understanding whilst we have worked to find a solution to the shortage of local school places.

“Cockburn School has joined local councillors and the council to work closely together to find ways to address the shortfall of places in the area due to the delays in opening the new free school.

“We are delighted to be able to announce that Cockburn School will provide an extra 60 places, with support from the council.

“Parents and carers who have been disappointed with their school offer have until March 16 to send in their requests to be on the waiting list for schools, and places will begin to be offered at schools where there are now vacancies, including these additional places, from March 23.

"It is therefore vital that you ensure you have registered to be on the waiting lists of all schools you want your child to attend.”