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  2. Teenagers in Leeds lose college places by text message

    BBC Radio Leeds

    Teenagers in Leeds say they have been left without places at a sixth form college, after being told it was full, the night before they were due to enrol.

    Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College

    They say they only found out by text message that the places they had been offered at Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College were no longer available.

    A number of teenagers and their parents gathered at the college gates on Thursday, where a statement was read out by the principal and deputy principal.

    Staff say they had warned enrolment would stop once a limit had been reached, and parents are now being encouraged to contact their local authority.

    Statement

    Saima Rashid, whose son had been offered a place, told BBC Radio Leeds: "I'm really devastated. I'm annoyed, I'm upset, because this was my first child going to do his sixth form. The college has let us down."

    A spokesperson for the college said: "When enrolment packs were sent out it was explained that we would enrol until we were full, and in the order of enrolment as explained."

    The Department for Education says Notre Dame is very popular and is oversubscribed each year, and that a "small number" of students will always miss out on a place at their preferred college.