Couple lose school choice fight

A judge backed the council's decision

A couple have lost a High Court bid to get their 11-year-old daughter into the secondary school of their choice.

The girl's father had said it was "irrational and perverse" that Leeds City Council had denied her a place at Temple Moor High School, despite it being over-subscribed.

The family's lawyer argued that the allocated school - John Smeaton Community High - suffered from below average exam results and high truancy and would not provide a suitable education for the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

But Mr Justice Pitchford, sitting at the High Court on Wednesday, dismissed the challenge and said the council had made the correct decision to allocate the girl a place at John Smeaton.

Barrister Alex Offer told the court that the parents had named five schools on their list of preferences - with Temple Moor at the top - but had not been offered a place at any of them.

He added that the father had "instantly discarded" John Smeaton as an option for his daughter.

But Mr Justice Pitchford said he was satisfied the council's school allocation panel had acted correctly in chosing betwen pupils competing for places at the over-crowded schools.