MORE than 30 parents have lost their battle to get places for their children at Burnley's most popular high school.

Of the 46 appeals against refusal of places at Ivy Bank High School, Burnley, only 13 were successful, according to figures from Lancashire Education Authority.

Ivy Bank was the most popular choice for parents looking for high school places for their youngsters in the town.

Earlier this year, 288 families put the school down as their first choice for a place.

Habergham and St Hilda's RC high schools were also popular choices.

All nine appeals for places at Gawthorpe were successful but only five of the 17 appeals for places at Habergham were won.

Burnley MP Peter Pike said: "Parents are now making second appeals in some cases and I am continuing to look closely at the position."

No-one was available for comment at Ivy Bank.

Figures from Lancashire County Council show other school appeals were as follows:

Alder Grange, Rawtenstall, eight successful out of 14 appeals; Haslingden High, all 17 appeals successful; Mansfield High, Brierfield, five successful out of 23 appeals; Park, Colne, eight out of 20.

Primet, Colne, 12 out of 20; Walton, Nelson, all eight appeals successful; West Craven, Barnoldswick, all three appeals successful.

Figures for other schools were unavailable and a county spokesman stressed the situation was changing daily.

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