£47m plan to transform primary schools set to go before council

Education Leeds has proposed to build new schools at Swillington, SS Peter and Paul, in Yeadon, and Richmond Hill primary schools while extension and refurbishment works are planned for Gildersome, Greenhill and Oulton primaries.

It has also proposed to rebuild and refurbish parts of Corpus Christi Catholic College through the city's Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.

A total of 33,125,500 of the costs at the six primary schools will come from government grants for primary schools previously announced.

As SS Peter and Paul, in Yeadon, is a voluntary-aided school there is a requirement that the school governors contribute 10 per cent of the funding towards the scheme, which will be met by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Leeds.

The 14m for the Corpus Christi Catholic College improvements will come from 260m allocated to Leeds under the BSF programme in 2005.

Chris Edwards, chief executive of Education Leeds, said: "These new and refurbished schools will allow even more children and young people to learn in brilliant environments which, together with excellent teaching and support, will help them get the most out of their time at school."

On Wednesday members of Leeds City Council's executive committee will be asked to back the spending plans and will be told details of the design for the schools.

Proposals for the six primary schools include:

n Richmond Hill Primary School –The school design uses an innovative approach to low-energy buildings and will achieve low running costs. It will offer special education needs and provision for 16 children with autism.

The proposals have already attracted controversy as it will be built on existing rugby playing fields - although a new one will be provided.

n Swillington Primary School – A new school with nursery and community space which will be built to tough green standards and will be one of the most energy efficient schools in the country.

n SS Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School, Yeadon – A new large, high ceiling central space designed to be the heart of the school. Classrooms will be accessed from this area which includes a library and will be available to the community.

n Gildersome Primary School. A refurbished school, plus an extension. Two temporary buildings will be removed and the internal layout of the school will be altered.

n Greenhill Primary School – A refurbished and extended school, including a nursery, which become one main building with one block demolished and a sports pitch created.

n Oulton Primary School – A refurbished school with nursery and behavioural provision, which will become one building with an existing block being demolished to provide sports pitches.

Proposals for Corpus Christi Catholic College include an extension of the main teaching block, including a new sports hall, and the refurbishment of other areas including classrooms and community facilities.

Coun Jane Dowson, executive board member for learning at Leeds City Council, said last night: "These proposals represent a huge investment in education in Leeds.

"These seven schools will be transformed into modern, future-proof learning environments which will help to provide a great education to many generations of children."