AS the post-summer ‘back to school’ week comes to a close, we look back on a historic shake-up of Bradford schools.

On September 1, 1971 the Telegraph & Argus reported:

Five Bradford primary schools, each at least 70 years old, will be replaced by new ones in the biggest allocation the city has ever received from school building projects.

This was revealed by Alderman Tom Hall, chairman of the Education Services Committee, when its special sub-committee recorded details of the 1972/73 design list published by the Department of Education and Science.

And the West Riding Education Department today announced new schools in Keighley, Aireborough, Otley, Brighouse and Spen. All building should start in 1974-74.

For the first time Bradford will be able to make a real start on replacing its many old and obsolete primary schools. Bradford’s allocation is £842,883 - a third more than the city’s average in recent years and well above the £700,000 peak

of 1967-68.

The city is also to receive nearly double the average allocation for replacements. Out of a national total of £140m for major buildings, 34per cent is for replacement schools but Bradford’s share is 62per cent.

In addition to the five replacements schools, there is another new primary school and two new middle schools.

A very pleased Ald Hall said: “I consider that this is a very successful achievement on the part of the Education Department of this city of the persuasive powers of its officers who went to London in order to press this case.”

The replacement schools are only the start of a big task. Although the five schools are among the oldest and least adequate of the old schools, there are about 70 which the committee wishes to replace.

“The five replacement schools (all for primary schools built before 1903) are: Horton Bank Top (£120,548); Usher Street (£79,577); Eccleshill C of E (£72,077); Great Horton (£125,548); and Clayton C of E (£100,487).

Other new schools in the design list are Wyke Primary (£72,077); a new middle school for SE Bradford (£194,708) and Leaventhorpe Middle (£55,250).

The West Riding Education Department’s design list includes the following primary schools - Oakworth, Rawdon Billings, East Morton, Otley South East.

Middle schools - Brighouse, Cleckheaton, Harrogate plus a sixth form.

l Did you go to any of the Bradford district schools mentioned above? Do you remember the transition from the older schools to the new buildings?

Get in touch and share your school memories by emailing emma.clayton@nqyne.co.uk or helen.mead@nqyne.co.uk

Emma Clayton