Major changes to Ilkley Grammar School have been outlined to allow the school to take in 480 extra pupils.

Head teacher Peter Wood said major building work would be needed at the Cowpasture Road school because of changes to the education structure in the district.

Bradford is shifting from a three-tier to a two-tier system of primary and secondary schools - and that means more pupils in existing schools.

Ilkley Grammar will operate on two sites while work is going on.

Years seven and eight will be based on the site currently occupied by Ilkley Middle School on Valley Drive.

The current head of Ilkley Middle School, Richard Jennings, will become head of what will be known as the Lower School.

Mr Wood said: "In spite of being on two sites to start with, we are determined that we will be one school from the first day. We will try to ensure that as many staff as possible teach in both buildings.

"I shall certainly make sure that my time is divided as equally as possible."

To cope with the extra pupils, 19 teachers from feeder middle schools, Addingham, Ilkley and Burley-in-Wharfedale, have been taken on.

Mr Wood said the extra staff had a great deal of experience in teaching across the 11-18 age range and would be able to carry on the long tradition of working together with grammar school teachers.

He added that children would also get to have familiar faces in charge of their education.

Mr Wood said: "We are already well into our planning for September 2000. Inevitably we are further advanced in some areas than others.

"Our teaching staffing is almost complete, though there are still some support staff appointments to be made."

The name of the new school has not yet been decided but already a new school uniform has been developed which will begin to be worn from September next year.

Mr Wood said that one crucial element in the school's planning for the massive upheaval was the need for regular communication with parents.

He said that there would be a series of meetings with parents and a steady flow of information from the school.

"Undoubtedly, a lot of hard work lies ahead," added Mr Wood. "We believe that the new school will give us all kinds of opportunities. The challenge is to make sure we grasp them and make them work for the benefit of the children."

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