WORK on new primary schools for Rawdon, Horsforth and Yeadon is set to start in the summer.

And the controversial new site of Rawdon Littlemoor School, on playing fields off the A65 New Road Side, could be open by September next year.

Staff and governors at the school claimed that the school was in desperate need of being replaced and although no one argued about the state of the school, many believed the site chosen by Education Leeds would exacerbate traffic problems in the area.

The announcement will also mean a new combined school at Yeadon Southview and new premises for Horsforth St Margaret's.

A chosen bidder for the £32 million project to build ten new schools across Leeds has been revealed and that means work could start at the sites within a few months and be opened by the beginning of the 2005-06 school year.

Following the announcement, detailed negotiations will now take place between Leeds City Council and the chosen consortium, QED.

Aireborough MP Paul Truswell, who has lobbied for new schools at Rawdon, Horsforth and Yeadon, said he was delighted.

"It is a tribute to all involved, and especially the schools, that they have kept faith and put in a tremendous amount of work, despite all the frustrations.

"And this is only the beginning of the end of the process, since schools still have pressures on them between now and completion."

Mr Truswell added although he appreciated that the location of the new Rawdon Littlemoor School was controversial, no one would disagree that it had some of the worst school buildings in Leeds.

"Pupils, staff, governors and the wider community will now get the school they need and deserve for the 21st Century."

Mr Truswell also welcomed the amalgamation of Yeadon Southview and Infants into a single, brand new purpose built school.

"It will be a great boost to the area and will enable staff to work even more closely together throughout the whole age range."

And he congratulated Horsforth St Margaret's School for coping with two sites more than a mile apart.

"Having a single school will mean that time and resource can be re-directed into higher educational priorities."

David Page, deputy chief executive of Leeds City Council, said: "This is a very important milestone for the Leeds Primary Schools PFI project.

"The new schools will not only bring state of the art facilities for children and staff, but also create new resources for ten communities across Leeds - including sports pitches and the latest IT facilities."

Lloyd Esau, PFI director on behalf of QED, said: "We are very pleased to have the opportunity of developing, building and maintaining these ten superb new schools for primary school children and communities of Leeds.

"We look forward to continuing the excellent working relationships we at QED have developed with the council and Education Leeds team and making this a truly excellent PFI project where the focus of QED on the customers needs and aspirations will really shine through."