Major plan is drawn up to cope with massive rise in pupils in Bradford (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Major plan is drawn up to cope with massive rise in pupils in Bradford

9:58pm Wednesday 25th November 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(2)

Five Bradford secondary schools are being asked to dramatically hike up their capacity as part of the third phase of Bradford Council’s school refurbishment and rebuilding project.

Head teachers, staff and governors have until December 11 to put forward their views on the Council’s proposals.

Each of the five schools are set to be redeveloped in the final part of the district’s Building Schools for Future programme (BSF).

Bradford’s school population is expected to rise over the next decade and these schools have been identified by planners as capable of accommodating hundreds of extra students once they have been redeveloped.

Including expanded sixth form provisions, Thornton Grammar School’s capacity would increase by 717 places, Belle Vue Girls’ by 682, Belle Vue Boys’ by 434, Carlton Bolling College by 257 and Queensbury by 156.

The largest increases would see 518 added to Belle Vue Girls’ in year groups below sixth form and 275 more in the sixth form at Thornton Grammar.

School capacities would not necessarily be increased to the maximum once building work is completed and would be reviewed annually.

Councillor Ralph Berry, education spokesman for the Council’s Labour group, said he was concerned, not least about increasing the overall capacity of Thornton Grammar to 2,650.

Coun Valerie Binney (Thornton and Allerton, Con) is not keen on expanding Thornton Grammar. She said: “A brand new school is what is necessary to serve the needs of Bradford West.”

Coun David Ward, education spokesman for the Council’s Liberal Democrat group, said there were perks to bigger schools.

At the end of the consultation the Council will decide whether or not to go ahead with the changes. If the decision is made to go ahead, notices would be published during the spring term.

A statutory four-week objection period would follow. Objections permitting, the building programme would begin ahead of completion in 2012. Proposals affecting Carlton Bolling were discussed at a forum meeting last night. A forum to discuss the Thornton Grammar proposals will be held at the school, in Leaventhorpe Lane, on Wednesday at 7pm.

• Comment

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(2)