Leeds politicians have criticised the "bizarre" rejection of a local Jewish free school proposal by the Department for Education and are making their dismay known to Education Secretary Michael Gove.

Leeds North East Labour MP Fabian Hamilton accused Mr Gove of "faulty administration" after the Leeds application leaders wrere informed on Monday that there was "no evidence" of parental demand for a high school and that their funding projections were financially unsustainable. Plans for a 210-place Jewish high school were submitted by the June deadline in the hope it would open by 2012.

Local councillor Dan Cohen, who is behind the application, said he had already received assurances from the DfE that the decision would be reviewed.

"I have now sent them details of all the parents who have signed up to the school, even though they don't ask for that. The figures on the model show we have surplus funds. I don't understand where they [the DfE] are coming from."