An education chief has pledged that Bradford Council will explore ‘every possibility’ over the growing strain on Ilkley Grammar School for places, in answer to fears that youngsters in the top priority catchment area could be sent elsewhere.

Bradford Council’s executive member for services to children and young people, Councillor Michael Kelly (Con, Craven), said the Council was willing to work with parents, schools and local bodies to find solutions to the shortage of places at Ilkley Grammar.

Children of families in Addingham and Burley-in-Wharfedale were this year allocated places at schools outside the area.

The children, who live in the ‘priority one’ catchment area for the school, were eventually offered places after the school was ordered to take in an extra 23 Year Seven students in September.

Coun Kelly said: “I’m very willing to work with all parties who have an interest in their children attending Ilkley Grammar, whether that be the parish council, the parents of future pupils, Addingham Primary School, Ilkley Grammar itself, Bradford Council, Education Bradford or anyone else.”

Addingham parents went through a similar period of uncertainty two years ago, when several children were allocated places at Greenhead High, Keighley, instead of Ilkley Grammar. They were also eventually accommodated at the Ilkley school.

But there have been worries, particularly from Addingham and Burley families, that children in future years could be turned away from Ilkley Grammar, and allocated schools elsewhere in the Bradford District, outside Wharfedale.

Coun Kelly said he was also willing to work with any other group that would possibly find solutions that may be practical and workable.

But he said his comments did not change the stance on the rebuilding of Ilkley Grammar under Bradford’s Building Schools for the Future scheme.

Ilkley Grammar head teacher Gillian James previously admitted she had mixed feelings about being directed by the Council to admit more students this September, while chairman of governors, Ros Beeson, expressed concerns about the wellbeing of students on the current site, which she deemed to be crowded.