Local communities asked for their views on new school proposals

People who live in Harehills and Beeston/Holbeck are being asked for their views on proposals from organisations who want to run new primary schools in their communities.

Leeds City Council has been working on a programme to increase primary school places around the city, in order to make sure there are enough places for the increasing number of children being born. As part of this programme, the council consulted on the need for two new primary schools, one at Florence Street, Harehills to open in September 2013 and one at the site of the old South Leeds Sports Centre, Beeston Road, to open in 2014. Based on that consultation, a notice was published at the beginning of the year inviting people interested in running the schools to send their proposals to the council.

The proposals are part of a city-wide programme which is necessary to meet the increased demand for primary-age places caused by a rising birth rate and an increase in the number of families moving into certain areas of the city. Through this programme the council has already delivered 710 new reception places since 2009.

The council received five proposals for the new school at Florence Street in Harehills, which were from:
1. Academies Enterprise Trust
2. The Co-Operative Academies Trust
3. LEAF Academy Trust
4. Leeds Muslim College
5. Rainbow Schools Trust
And three, for the new school at the South Leeds Sports Centre site, which were from:
1. Academies Enterprise Trust
2. The Learning Trust (South Leeds)
3. Rainbow Schools Trust

The council is now inviting comments on these proposals from members of the local communities, including ward members and anyone with an interest in the proposals.

Public meetings have been arranged for interested parties to find out more about each proposal and have their say. For the Harehills proposals the public meetings will be at 2.30pm and 6.30pm on Tuesday 17 July, at Shine business and community centre, Harehills Road, LS8 5HS. For the south Leeds proposals the meetings will be at 2.00pm and 6.30pm on Thursday 12 July, at the Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, LS11 6RD. Attendees will be able to browse the materials and speak to the proposers informally between 5.00pm and 6.00pm at both locations.

All comments will be considered by the council’s executive board, who will make a decision on who will run the new school at their meeting in October 2012.

Comments must be received by Leeds City Council by 4.00pm on 20 August 2012:
In writing to: The director of children’s services, c/o Capacity Planning and Sufficiency Team, Children’s Services, 10th Floor West, Merrion House, 110 Merrion Centre, Leeds LS2 8DT.
By email to: educ.school.organisation@leeds.gov.uk
Copies of the full proposals are available on www.leeds.gov.uk, by calling 0113 224 3867, or by contacting the proposers directly.


ENDS
For media enquiries, please contact:
Emma Whittell, Leeds City Council press office, on (0113) 2474713
Email: emma.whittell@leeds.gov.uk