Delighted parents have welcomed a groundbreaking land swap deal which will save their school.

The future looks bright for St Luke's CE First School after the revelation Marshals - which runs Pickards Quarry on Fagley Lane, Eccleshill - has agreed in principle to swap the chunk of land it owns next to the school with the Council.

Some 50 parents attended a meeting last night where the plan was discussed for the first time.

One mum, Jacqueline Oldfield, whose daughter Rebecca, four, starts at the school next week, said the plan would win unanimous support from parents. "I couldn't be more thrilled - it's brilliant, the best thing that could have happened," she said.

Another parent, Jill Crewe, who has a daughter Gemma, eight, at the school, and another, Abigail, four, who starts next week, said she too was delighted. "I'm over the moon. It can only be an improvement - this is a lovely school as it is and to make it bigger can only make it better."

The school was initially recommended as a primary on its current site, but after fears there might not be enough space for additional classrooms, the review team submitted a revised proposal recommending the school be moved to the existing Ravenscliffe First School site.

This new breakthrough means St Luke's would be able to stay on its current site, expanding onto the extra land.

Kathryn Banbury, chairman of governors, expressed her delight at the proposal saying: "This will keep St Luke's at the heart of the local community and the parish."

And Reverend Stephen Treasure, vicar of St Luke's Church, said the scheme would ensure links between the church and the school - which have been on the same site for 150 years - would continue to grow.

The last-gasp land swap deal was one of 16 new amendments recommended by the review team. Others include the decision to revert back to the initial proposal for Low Ash First School - which will undergo a significant change of character and become a primary school on its current site.

Vivien Kirby, head teacher at Low Ash said: "This decision is the best one for the children. Their education has always been our number one priority. It isn't a case of anybody winning or losing."

The final proposed new pattern for schools now reads: six nursery schools, 13 special schools, 156 primary schools and 29 secondary schools. The £155million scheme is expected to approved by Councillors on September 8.

l In a report about the school review which appeared in the Telegraph & Argus on Wednesday, August 27 it was stated the parents of Oakbank Upper School wanted to secure a move to the Bronte Middle School site. The Keighley Education Action group has asked us to clarify that it wants to use the two schools as a split site.

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