AN academy chain has said it “urgently” needs to install three-metre-high fences around two primary schools to prevent “vandalism and trespassing”.

Applications by Star Academies say Thornbury Primary Academy and High Crags Primary Academy in Shipley have both been plagued by youths climbing over existing fences and into the schools “during the dark hours” and leaving a trail of damage.

They say the existing fencing on the schools is easily scaled by the youths, and more needs to be done to protect the two sites. Planning applications for three-metre-high fences have now been submitted to Bradford Council.

The application for the High Crags fence says; “Although surrounded by residential properties, the school site seems to be an attraction to local youths frequenting the site during the dark hours. The security fencing is urgently required in order to reduce the amount of vandalism and trespassing on the site.”

It says there have been numerous instances of vandalism taking place at the school.

The planning application for a fence at Thornbury Academy makes similar claims, adding: “There have been many instances of vandalism to the building and play equipment in the yards.”

The application for Thornbury Primary would see anti-climb fencing installed to replace the existing fence along Lower Rushton Road and Gurbax Court “to achieve a boundary height of 3m”.

Similar work would be done at High Crags with the anti-climb fencing added to the existing stone wall on the left hand side of the school and along Crag Road. The fence to the front of the school would also be replaced.

The schools, along with Barkerend Primary Academy, were part of the Wakefield City Academies Trust until it folded last year. They have since been taken over by Star Academies.

Councillor Mike Pollard (Con, Baildon) is part of the transition board on High Crags.

He said: “In the past there has been a significant problem of lads climbing onto the roof and pinching lead before it was replaced with a cheaper material.

“This is understandable in terms of security, but whether a three-metre fence is suitable in terms of amenity and appearance is an entirely different matter.”

A spokesperson for the trust said: “There have been some instances of anti-social behaviour at the rear of the school buildings.

“Increasing the height of fences around each school would increase the security of the buildings and prevent further instances of nuisance and vandalism.”