TWO Bradford primary schools have doubled in size, helping relieve pressure on near-capacity schools in an area with a growing number of children.

Yesterday, both Southmere Primary School and Brackenhill Primary School, in Great Horton, officially opened their expended buildings, creating 420 extra primary places in the area.

Great Horton has experienced rising birth rates in recent years, and Council estimates had predicted a shortage of 23 spaces in schools by 2018. And while the Council tries to keep five per cent spare capacity for particularly large year groups, in the Great Horton area there was a predicted shortage of 1.2 per cent forecast in four year's time.

But now there is some relief for the community, as both schools have doubled their annual intake from 30 to 60.

Yesterday the expansions, which have been built gradually over five years, were opened by Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Mike Gibbons.

Bradford is one of the youngest cities in the country and there is a pressure on schools from the number of children being born faster than school places are created. The predictions come from newborns in the area registered with the local health authority and also take into account migration figures and new housing developments in the area.

Councillor Ralph Berry, executive for children's services, said the Brackenhill expansion was "one of the most impressive school buildings" he had seen in the district. He added: "Before the expansion these schools were oversubscribed, partly because of the high birth rate in the area."

Helen Metcalf, head teacher at Brackenhill Primary, said: "We can now take double the children, we used to only have 210 spaces but now we have 420. Before the expansion we were trying to find places, but a lot of the time we had to turn people wanting to join the school away. This expansion of both schools has meant families in Great Horton are able to get places in their community.

"There are now much better facilities in the school that will make a real difference."

Southmere head Hayley Marshall said: "The day celebrated the hard work of so many people. The highlight was the Lord Mayor officially opening the new building by cutting a yellow ribbon and revealing a plaque.

"There was definitely a need for these spaces in the area, and this expansion means we can provide for local children."

Last month, Bradford Council approved the enlargement of four more schools in areas with a high demand for places, Barkerend Primary School, Lidget Green Primary School, Wycliffe Primary School in Shipley and Stocks Lane Primary School in Queensbury. And over the previous few years a number of other schools have been expanded as the council opts to extend existing facilities rather than the more expensive option of opening new schools.

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