New Leeds primary school offers 420 new places

A NEW £7.8m primary school which will provide more 400 places in a part of Leeds facing a shortage has opened its doors.

Nightingale Primary School, in Harehills, is being run by the Co-operatives Academies Trust.

It is now one of five schools in the city run by the academy sponsor.

Richard Pennycook, the chief executive of the whole Co-operative group has visited the new school to mark its opening. Building work at the site in Stanley Road will be completed by the end of the year.

It currently has 60 reception class children and will eventually deliver more than 400 places for the Harehills area.

Mr Pennycook said: “I am very proud of what the Co-operative Academies Trust is doing and how the five schools are working together to deliver the highest standards of education based on co-operative values and principles.

“They are committed to creating an outstanding learning community where all pupils achieve their maximum potential. “

There are three other Co-op primaries in east Leeds - Oakwood School in Gipton, Woodlands in Harehills, and Brownhill in Burmantofts – and a secondary school, The Co-operative Academy of Leeds.

Councillor Judith Blake, Leeds City Council’s executive member for children and families, said: “I’m delighted that we now have a brand new primary school for the children of Harehills.

“We will work closely with the academy and the trust to ensure a successful start for the school and its pupils and I look forward to visiting the school in the future.”

Stephen McMullan, deputy director of trust for The Co-operative Academies Trust, said: “We want every child to achieve and we encourage all our parents to get involved actively in the life of the schools.”