NEW school buildings to replace ageing classrooms have moved closer to reality after winning council backing.

Schools in Rawdon, Yeadon and Horsforth may move into state-of-the-art buildings in 2004 or 2005 after Leeds City Council's executive board agreed to go ahead with the Private Finance Initiative Building scheme.

The project will see pupils of Rawdon Littlemoor School move from Victorian classrooms to a new school building, the amalgamation of Yeadon South View Junior and Infants Schools, and Horsforth St Margaret's Primary School brought onto one site.

The proposals must now gain approval from the Government for the council to choose and appoint developers to build the new schools.

Rawdon Littlemoor - part of which is housed in a buildings built in 1878 - had been campaigning for a re-build for years.

The school's hall is too small to hold all the pupils for assemblies, and its 19th Century classrooms are supplemented by six temporary classrooms.

The PFI project will see the school rebuilt as 1.5 form entry primary school, with a before and after school club and a playscheme.

Aireborough and Horsforth MP Paul Truswell said he had been lobbying the council to put in detailed plans for the rebuilding projects.

He said: "We have been campaigning for years to get Rawdon Littlemoor rebuilt. Out of the 240 primary schools in Leeds, it is probably one of the most desperately in need of rebuilding.

"The staff, governors, parents and community have made it a very good school. It now looks set to get the accommodation it needs to go with that achievement."

Mr Truswell said the plans for Yeadon South View Juniors and Infants would address the problem of surplus places, and secure the school's future.

The schools are on two sites, separated by a busy road, and the junior school building dates back to the 19th Century.

It is proposed to create a single form entry primary school, removing the 167 surplus places, and provide a 26 place nursery, before and after school club, and a holiday playscheme.

The PFI scheme is also expected to see the two Victorian buildings of Horsforth St Margaret's School brought together on one site, with a new before and after school club and playscheme for 32 children set up.

All the schools involved are expected to be closely involved in developing the proposals and will have a say in planning the proposed new buildings and refurbishments.

Ward councillor Mike Dunn (Lab, Aireborough), also welcomed the decision.

He said: "This is really good news for local parents and pupils. We will take children out of the present, ageing, unsuitable premises and provide brand new school buildings, on one site with additional nursery places.

The new school buildings will provide the best possible teaching environment for out children and give them every chance to fill their potential."

Leeds City Council is also planning to send in a team to assess a surplus of school places at primary schools in certain areas of Leeds, including schools in Yeadon and Horsforth.