PARENTS campaigning to get their children sent to their local school have received a major boost this week - but have warned that their fight to change 'unjust' school admission

policies will go on.

Maureen Hancox and a group of other parents in the Newlaithes area of Horsforth were originally told that their children would have to attend West Leeds High School in Armley, Leeds - despite the fact they want to attend Horsforth School, which is just a short walk away.

But this week, five children have been told that they will now be able to attend Horsforth School - but only because other pupils have dropped out from the over-subscribed school.

Mrs Hancox, whose 11-year-old daughter Sarah now has a place at the school of her choice, said she was delighted - but added that it was a hollow victory and that a petition with 965 names on it shows the depth of feeling in the township.

She said: "Sarah getting a place is very welcome and a great relief because she has her SAT's this week and we didn't want her having to do those with all this going on - it has been very worrying.

"We're grateful to get the place, but it only came about because we are on the waiting list and other pupils who were allocated a place have dropped out. It was part of the natural process, not because of a change in Leeds City Council's policy.

"We're going to fight on and try get the council to change its policy, because this will affect a lot more people in years to come."

As previously reported, eight

children who have attended Horsforth Newlaithes School - two of whom live in Cookridge - were not allocated Horsforth School because it was over-subscribed.

Parents argued that a rule which means siblings of pupils already in the school get priority, even if they live outside the area, is wrong if it means local children are missing out.

They also feared for the safety of their children during the six-mile journey to Armley, which would take two buses. They were also angry that Newlaithes area of Horsforth was just over the 1.5 km radius drawn around the school for admissions.

The petition was presented to Education Leeds Chief Executive Chris Edwards on Tuesday.

Horsforth councillors Chris Townsley and Brian Cleasby are backing the parents and have already met with education chiefs to discuss admissions issues. Another meeting is planned this week.

The three children who do not yet have places will have their appeals heard on May 22.