YOUNGSTERS from Bramhope could face a two-bus trek across Leeds if education chiefs stick to plans to send them to a North Leeds School.

While most pupils of Bramhope Primary School are expected to progress to Prince Henry's Grammar School, Otley, some have been told there are not enough places this September - and must instead find their way to Carr Manor High School in Moortown.

Nine pupils of Bramhope Primary School were originally told they would be unable to attend their first choice of school, Prince Henry's Grammar, but some have now gained places, or chosen other schools.

Five Bramhope 11-year-olds now face a daily trek to Carr Manor, via Leeds City Bus Station, unless they win their appeals against the decision.

Local councillors involved in discussions over schools admissions are also concerned that a lone pupil from Pool CE Primary School could be separated from classmates and sent to Carr Manor.

Bramhope Primary School governor Richard Harker, who is also a Bramhope parish councillor and Leeds city councillor, said some Bramhope parents had failed to select a 'second choice' school, as they had believed there would be no difficulty gaining admission to Prince Henry's.

But he believes Prince Henry's is capable of taking on all the Bramhope children.

He said: "We have a discreet community here that surely Prince Henry's can accommodate. Their average class size is only 27 in Year Seven."

Coun Harker claimed that Education Leeds does not want to alter class sizes for 'bureaucratic reasons'.

He said there had been a two-year blip in the population, which had led to larger entry into local schools, and some believe Prince Henry's specialist language college status may be attracting more pupils.

Another parish and city councillor, Clive Fox, has also spoken to parents who are trying to get their children into Prince Henry's.

"I'm sure there's a reasonable prospect that the five can be accommodated at Prince Henry's," he said.

Other Bramhope children have been allocated schools closer to home, but have lodged appeals in an attempt to reach Prince Henry's. Coun Fox said appeals against the initial decision of Education Leeds would take place in May, and believes more places may become available as some families move from the area, or decide to send their children to other schools.

There are fears that the amid the process of allocating any extra places which come up at Prince Henry's, a 'dividing line' of school catchment areas will be drawn across Bramhope.

Coun Fox believes Education Leeds is trying to make up numbers in schools which are not in as great demand by parents as schools such as Prince Henry's.

An Education Leeds spokeswoman confirmed that eight Bramhope people have lodged an appeal for a place at Prince Henry's Grammar, among a total of 48 appeals for places at the school this year.

She said: "There has been a request by the school that the number of pupils admitted in September 2003 be increased. Executive Board members have looked at this issue and decided that it would be unwise to change pupil admission numbers before the High School Review starts.

"A rolling programme which is due to start imminently, this process would look closely at the issues raised."