THE need for primary school places in parts of the district is "starting to reduce" according to a new report.

But while the number of primary school aged children in Bradford is reducing, there is now an added strain on secondary school places.

At a meeting on Wednesday, Bradford Council's Children's Services Scrutiny Committee will hear an update on the district's school places.

A report to the committee says that since 2010 an extra 8,895 new primary school places have been created, with a further 585 in the pipeline.

150 new secondary school places have been delivered and a further 500 are in delivery.

Two new secondary free schools due to open in September will create an additional 1,200 spaces.

Hundreds of extra secondary school places needed in Bradford, according to government projections

The report reveals that while recent years have seen a big increase in primary school aged pupils, birth rates have since declined, putting less pressure on primary schools.

It adds: "The increase in primary numbers has slowed with forecast numbers in some areas of the District starting to reduce. The pressure on pupil numbers at secondary level is increasing as the increased primary numbers move through the system. The secondary school expansions that the Council is undertaking together with the new Free Schools the ESFA are delivering should deliver sufficient places for future years."

The report also reveals that since the Government's push towards academisation, 95 schools in the district have converted to academy status, and there a further six in progress.

This leaves a balance of 102 schools in Bradford that are not academies, including maintained, trust, voluntary aided, voluntary controlled schools, nurseries and Pupil Referral Units (primary, secondary and special).

The committee meets in City Hall at 4.30pm on Wednesday.