The new Utley primary school is set to have its pupil intake cut.

Under the final proposals Utley First School is to become a primary school catering for pupils aged 4-11 plus nursery provision. It is set to move to Cartmel Road, Keighley. But its standard admission number is to be lowered from 60 to 45 children and its pupil capacity reduced from 420 to 315 pupils.

Head-teacher Kaye Lindley says: "We were pleased that the school was going to have a standard admission number of 60 and hoped it would stay as that because it's an ideal size for a primary school. With this size, classes can be individual year groups rather than being mixed, which is what will have to happen with fewer pupils.

"We are disappointed about the reduction. But we will do our best to work within it."

The higher pupil intake was recommended under the council's revised proposals in June and was supported by the school's teachers, staff and governors. They said that because the new school would be larger than it is now there would be a more diverse group of pupils and would give more flexibility financially and educationally.

Utley parents petitioned against the move to Cartmel Road because they said the children would have to travel the same distance to get to the new school as they do now and that it would be a more difficult journey. They suggested different sites.

Alternative sites were investigated by the council but none of them were found to be suitable or available.

The initial proposal for Utley First School, which came out in April, was to close it.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.