The 361 pupils who were not allocated any of their preferred secondary schools will be subject of a review following a decision taken by a meeting of Bradford Council this evening.

An analysis will take place of school preferences and their impact with particular reference to the five per cent of pupils who missed out on their first, second and third choices for September.

This report will be assessed by the Council’s executive before the start of the admissions process for 2011.

In addition the Council’s strategic director for children and young people, Kath Tunstall, will be asked to explore whether there is a need to provide new primary, secondary and studio schools in the district.

It follows a Conservative amendment to an original motion by Labour councillors which called for urgent review of secondary school admission arrangements and pupil projections.

Councillor Michael Kelly, the Council’s executive member for children and young people, told the meeting: “Pupil numbers in Bradford are kept under considerable review as they are extremely volatile. The success of the Building Schools for the Future phase one schools has had an impact on secondary admissions. Schools such as Tong and Buttershaw are full this year with no children being allocated against preference.”

Councillor Ralph Berry, the Labour group’s spokesman for education, added: “The allocation of such a significant number of pupils against their preference is not something that should happen. The admissions process should be looked at from a number of different angles to improve it.”

Councillor David Ward, the Liberal Democrat’s group spokesman for education, said: “There are some unrealistic demands that are made by some parents.

“If you look at those who received against the three preferences - two thirds of those are to schools within two miles of their home – and one third of applications don’t bother to use all three preferences.”

The Labour motion was defeated in favour of the Conservative alternative.