A REPRESENTATIVE of Bradford Council's Education Department is to hear concerns of Wharfedale parents about local secondary school places provision at a Burley Neighbourhood Forum meeting next Thursday (July 16).

Parents' group WASP (Wharfedale Action for School Places) is urging parents of primary school age children to attend the meeting at the Queen's Hall, Burley-in-Wharfedale, starting at 7pm.

WASP says it wants to encourage action on the part of education providers.Parents are concerned that more housing is planned without a corresponding growth in education provision, and their children will not get a secondary school place locally.

It fears Bradford Council’s Local Plan will generate more need than can be accommodated at Ilkley Grammar School, and is looking at the options which may be available to meet the growing demand for secondary school places.

Cathy Hunt, of WASP, says: "On behalf of the group I would like to invite parents to attend the meeting, and in particular, those who have children who are presently in primary school."

District Councillor, Jackie Whiteley (Con, Wharfedale)said: "I am impressed by the determination of these parents. They want action to address the problem which will come when more families move in the area. They want no more than to have their children educated locally and to a standard that we have all come to expect from Ilkley Grammar School’."