CITY councillors are to be asked their views on proposed changes to Archbishop Holgate's CE School in York.

The church school wants to change from a voluntary controlled to voluntary aided school, so that up to a quarter of its places would be offered to children from religious families.

These places would be given on "faith grounds", to children whose parents attend any place of worship, of any denomination or religion.

The Hull Road school would keep the same catchment area and staff employment would transfer from the council to the school's governing body.

Members of the council's executive will meet this week to decide whether to make a formal objection to the proposal after hearing from Murray Rose, assistant education director.

He said that informal consultation meetings had now taken place and the majority of attendees had given strong support to the proposal.

However, a number of objections had been raised informally, including criticising the introduction of selection on faith grounds and disturbing the established pattern of balanced catchment areas.

The need to become voluntary aided to further the school's Christian ethos had also been questioned.

Mr Rose said Archbishop Holgate's School was a popular school and was full in each year group.

The school would continue to use its grounds, which are owned by City of York Council, and its buildings, which are owned by the school's trustees.

Updated: 11:59 Monday, August 12, 2002