Primaries to expand and £337m earmarked for revamp in region

Almost 300 additional places are to be created by expanding 16 primary schools across Leeds from September.

According to Leeds Council, the extra places are needed across the city because of a rise in the number of children being born in Leeds and the number of families moving into the area.

The council's executive board has agreed to provide an estimated 8.3m for the school expansions in 2010 pending the outcome of statutory notices which were recently published. A final decision will be made in the summer.

Chris Edwards, chief executive of Education Leeds, said: "Expanding these schools will ensure that the brilliant primary school education in Leeds is available to every child who needs it.

"The additional classrooms and facilities will be in high quality buildings, designed to last at least 50 years, and will be permanent classrooms. All the expansions will be handled very carefully and everything possible will be done to minimise disruption at the schools."

Elsewhere in West Yorkshire, Building Schools for the Future (BSF), funding to invest in Bradford secondary school buildings and information technology facilities, was given the green light for the 337m Phase Three of the scheme.

Partnership for schools (PfS), the organisation which administers BSF on behalf of the government, approved Bradford Council's outline business case for the programme.

Four schools – Belle Vue Girls, Belle Vue Boys, Carlton Bolling College and Queensbury – will receive funding in round one of BSF Phase three.

Other schools involved in later rounds of the third phase are Laisterdyke, St Bede's Catholic, St Joseph's Catholic, Ilkley Grammar, Bingley Grammar, Nab Wood, Thornton Grammar, Oakbank, The Holy Family, Challenge College, Parkside, Feversham College and Immanuel.

Kath Tunstall, Bradford Council's strategic director for services to children and young people, said: "We will now be able to provide the most up-to-date environment and facilities for all our secondary schools.

"Bradford children will be taught in the surroundings and with the technology that their efforts deserve."

The first phase of BSF saw three new schools built at Tong, Buttershaw and Salt Grammar.

Phase Two has enabled the building of three new schools at Beckfoot, Greenhead and Grange Technology College, each linked with new special schools, and the remodelling of Hanson School and its designated specialist provision.

In Leeds, the estimated details of the proposed expansions include: Beeston – admissions to rise from 60 to 90; Blenheim – admissions to rise from 30 to 60; Brudenell – admissions to rise from 40 to 45; Ebor Gardens – admissions to rise from 30 to 60; Greenmount – admissions to rise from 45 to 60; Highfield – admissions to rise from 45 to 60; Hugh Gaitskell – admissions to rise from 75 to 90; Ireland Wood – admissions to rise from 30 to 60; Ingram Road – admissions to rise from 30 to 45; Iveson – admissions to rise from 30 to 45; Mill Field – admissions to rise from 30 to 60; New Bewerley – admissions to rise from 45 to 60; Swarcliffe – admissions to rise from 30 to 45; Victoria – admissions to rise from 50 to 60; Whitkirk – admissions to rise from 45 to 60; St Augustine's – admissions to rise from 50 to 60 (self-funded).