A CULLINGWORTH secondary school is altering its admissions criteria to make sure children living nearest will be able to get spaces in light of growing populations.

Parkside – and Tong High School in Bradford – will be changing their policies that decide which children are offered places if more people apply to go to the school than there are places available.

The changes come as the number of secondary school aged pupils is expected to rise in coming years, due to both rising birth rates and new housing developments in parts of the district.

The planned changes have now gone out to public consultation, and if approved would mean that fewer local families missed out on places at their nearest school.

The changes to Parkside School's admissions would see children from Haworth and Oxenhope included in the list of families given priority if there is pressure on school places. The number of pupils the school takes on each year will also rise, from 180 to 210.

If Tong is oversubscribed, then its priority area will be "significantly expanded".

And children of school staff will also be given a preference, which Bradford Council hopes will "help with attracting and retaining high quality staff."

Both schools are trust schools that will make their own decisions on their proposals after consultations, which are being co-ordinated by Bradford Council.

The council is also asking for the public's views on proposals to change the admissions criteria at Cottingley Primary School.

People are being asked to comment on four options for updating the school's priority areas, which come into play in years when applications outnumber places. A considerable number of new houses have been built in and around the village since the existing priority areas were drawn up.

Michael Jameson, strategic director of children's services, said: "We are always looking at ways to support schools to improve the admissions process for local families. We encourage everyone to have their say on whether these latest proposals will help the schools to serve their catchment areas as best they can.”

Worth Valley councillor Rebecca Poulsen said about half of the families in the area sent their children to Parkside and being given priority for school places would make life easier if the pressure for school places grew.

She added: "It makes perfect sense to include Haworth and Oxenhope in the admissions criteria. I've let local parents know that it is important they get their views across."

People are also encouraged to submit their views on the consultations section of the council's website bradford.gov.uk.