CAMPAIGNING parents are claiming a landmark victory in their fight to stop the closure of an Otley primary school.

In London's Appeal Court last week they won the right to challenge the decision to close All Saints Junior School, North Parade.

And although they accept it has probably come too late to stop their school from being closed - which is due to shut a week early on July 12 - they are confident it will mean future school reorganisations are handled differently.

Sonya Conway, spokesman for the group, said: "We are absolutely thrilled with this decision.

"We don't believe it is a hollow victory, it is a landmark victory. It appears at the moment that the schools are still going to close, and this decision is not going to benefit us. But it does mean that other schools are not going to go through in the future what we had to."

Mrs Conway said the group were due yesterday to meet with their solicitor to discuss what steps to take next.

"We were angry over a point of principle and will be seeking further advice as to our next steps," she said.

In February this year, the group of parents was refused permission by a judge to seek a judicial review into the decision by the Leeds School Organisation Committee to close All Saints Junior School.

The parents claimed the whole consultation process, which began in March last year, was flawed. The group then challenged that decision in the Court of Appeal.

Its claim against the Leeds Schools Organisation Committee, which was taken on behalf of two children at the school, was that the committee acted unlawfully by refusing to hear spoken arguments from parents why the school should not be closed.

At the Appeal Court last Thursday, judges said the case should be heard as a 'test' which could change the way school restructuring is handled in the future.

Lord Justice Sedley told the court he believed whatever the outcome of the case he was quite certain no court would recommend a reversal of the schools' closure at so advanced a stage.

But he did say that it was important that the case be heard.

Councillor Graham Kirkland (Lib Dem, Otley and Wharfedale), said: "I don't believe people want to open old wounds. The parents have won the right to a judicial review, but not the right to stop the closure from going forward."

But he believed lessons had been learned. "I don't think the reorganisation was done very well. It was the first one Education Leeds has done and there was a change of staff in the middle which isn't a good thing

"They've been up against three High Court judges now and they don't come cheap, I wouldn't like the parents to go bankrupt over a point of principle."

Coun Clive Fox (Con, Otley and Wharfedale) added: "I have to admire any group of people who have the tenacity, the drive and the conviction to take their case all the way. The fact they won the right to challenge the decision is a major victory for them and establishes a precedent."

A spokesman for the Leeds Schools Organisation Comm-ittee said: "We will fully participate in the judicial review process.

"The review will look at the practice in hearing the views of objectors in person. It will not, therefore affect the progress we have made with plans to reorganise schools in Otley."

The parents judicial review challenge is now due to be held by two judges at London's High Court on July 23 and July 24.