ILKLEY Grammar School has opened a consultation to seek views on expanding its catchment area for new pupils and for amending criteria for admission to its sixth form.

The proposed changes involve extending the school’s Priority 2 boundary to encompass the High Royds Estate in Menston, which is currently excluded.

In a letter to parents head teacher Helen Williams said: “Since the High Royds estate has been built, families living in this area have increasingly struggled to get a place at Ilkley Grammar School as other students who also live outside of the main priority areas and out of district, have been given preference based on straight-line distance. Given that most children on the High Royds Estate attend Menston Primary, a Bradford school and a main ‘feeder’ primary for Ilkley Grammar School, the governors would now like to extend the boundary for the Priority 2 catchment to include this residential area. Under the proposal, this would mean that children living on the High Royds Estate would have an increased chance of securing a place at Ilkley Grammar School under the same criteria as their Menston friends, as they would live within the school’s defined Priority 2 catchment area, rather than, as is currently the case, be dealt with as out-of-area applicants.”

Ms Williams said the change would not impact on those living in its Priority 1 catchment area or disadvantage those living in other residential estates in Menston.

The school is also consulting to amend its over-subscription criteria at post 16 to include students from The Skipton Academy before other out of area students. The proposal formally recognises the close links between the schools who are partners within Moorlands Learning Trust.

The consultation runs until Friday, January 31, 2020. Any comments can be made by email: consultation@ilkleygs.co.uk or a response can be sent by post to the school. Following an analysis of responses a report will be presented to the governors of the academy for a decision to be made to proceed or not.