Education leaders today revealed that no secondaries will be axed as they draw up their new hit-list of schools.

In the last programme of proposed closures, abandoned after a public outcry, three secondary schools were on the list.

They say the decision to exclude them from consideration this time around has been made after "listening to parents".

But as they made the announcement, a cross-party group met behind closed doors yesterday to decide which primary schools will be placed on the next hit-list.

It is understood that while individual schools have not yet been identified, certain areas of the city have been earmarked for possible closures. Fears have already been raised that the primary schools that will ultimately face the axe will be in the city's most deprived communities.

Terry Wrigley, a senior lecturer in educational development at Edinburgh University, welcomed news that secondaries had been thrown a lifeline.

However, Dr Wrigley today warned that the criteria being used to decide which schools will shut would lead to deprived areas being hit once again. The criteria includes poor exam results, falling rolls and high running costs.

He said: "My initial thoughts are of relief that they haven't gone for the secondaries which would have been very damaging.

"With regard to primary schools, it became very apparent when we studied the details last time that they had chosen the poorest parts of the city and there is a fear that the criteria this time will mean the poorer parts of Edinburgh are hit again.

"The issue is, of course, that cost is higher in areas where there is the greatest need.

"Also, results vary in accordance to measures of advantage and disadvantage in areas."

The news that secondary schools are safe from this round of closures will come as a relief to Castlebrae and Drummond community high schools and Wester Hailes Education Centre, the three which faced closure when the council drew up its last hit-list.

Gillian Tee, the city's director of education, said the secondary school estate would not be reviewed until the six new schools being built under PPP2 weree operational.

She said: "We have listened to parents and have identified educational reasons for not going ahead with the secondary sector at this stage.

"While we are confident that secondary school rolls are going to fall, the impact of this fall is only just starting to be evident.

"The council is currently building six new secondary schools. It will be important to analyse the impact of these new schools on parental choice before reviewing the secondary sector.

"Any further review would coincide with the new schools opening in 2010/11."