A panic rush for places in schools that will survive closure under the proposed new education system has begun among parents.

They have already started considering the consequences for their children and are beginning to take steps to move them out of schools that will close in a bid to minimise the disruption to education when the changes are implemented from September 1999.

Children will have to be transferred out of closing schools or relocated to another school site.

But principal education officer Jennie Sadowsky has already issued a letter to headteachers warning them not to accept any requests at this stage.

The letter said: "Following the publication of the proposed list of schools we have received a number of requests from parents to change their preferred school to one that is not listed for closure. Whilst recognising that some schools do have places available across the year groups, headteachers must not offer any places to parents at this stage."

Bradford Council's Tory opposition education spokesman Dale Smith said: "Sadly, there is a degree of chaos and despondency that I forecast with the way the changes will be implemented. It is strange the LEA is issuing this advice to schools at this late stage. It goes to show education in Bradford is now in turmoil."

Chris Milone, the convenor for middle school heads, said: "I can understand why parents are doing this. They are worried about the disruption the reorganisation is going to cause but we have to maintain a certain 'business-as-usual' approach because the changes are only proposals at the moment. Nothing can be set in motion until the LEA gets the go-ahead from the Secretary of State for Education."

Mike Joyce at Mandale Middle said he had received two requests for places from concerned parents because their children's schools are closing. He predicted that many parents would move house to areas where there are good schools, particularly outside Bradford, because there would be no confidence in many of the schools that would exist in the future.

Education chairman Jim Flood said: "I suspect long distance learning can be disruptive. We are conscious of the need to cater for those children and we shall do our best to ensure change is not a negative experience."

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