A consultation is under way into plans to convert a middle school into an academy before it becomes a free secondary school from September next year.

The BBG (Birkenshaw, Birstall and Gomersal) Academy Trust, which joined forces with governors at Birkenshaw Middle School in November, is asking for views on the proposed changes, which include the creation of the BBG High School.

Under the plans, the existing school would operate as a middle school academy until July 2013, with the new secondary school, for 11 to 16-year-olds, opening at the start of the following September. By becoming an academy the middle school will be able to take extra pupils in years six, seven and eight from September.