Primary schools across the district are being expanded to meet the demand of rising numbers of school-age children.

Planning applications to expand two primary schools have been revealed by Bradford Council and another school opened its expanded facilities earlier this week.

A ceremony was held to mark the completion of work at Ashlands Primary School on Leeds Road, Ilkley.

Plans to expand Cullingworth and Brackenhill Primary Schools are currently going through the planning process.

Last year, Bradford Council announced plans for expansion projects in several primary schools to make space for the hundreds of extra children expected to reach school age in the near future. With limited funds to build new schools, the council decided instead to expand its existing schools.

In March, the Government announced Bradford would get £15.3m between 2013 and 2015 as part of an allowance which could be used on new schools or expanding existing ones.

Between 2015 and 2017, it will get an £18.9m share of the allowance, a £3.6m rise on the previous two years.

Cullingworth school, on New School Lane, will see a rise in pupils from 210 to 315 once its expansion is completed, and the planning application is for three classrooms, two group rooms, cloakrooms and toilets. Existing rooms in the building will also be expanded.

Brackenhill Primary School on Dracup Road, off Great Horton Road, has already been expanded, with new classrooms opening in 2012. The school is now ready for a further expansion, including three new classrooms.

Decisions on both applications are expected in March.

Ashlands has recently seen the construction of four additional classrooms, staff accommodation and improvements to parking. Coun Ralph Berry, executive member for children and young people’s services at Bradford Council opened the expanded facilities on Wednesday.

Dr Andrew Soutar, headteacher, said: “During the design development and throughout the works on site the school has been closely involved in the decision- making process and consulted about all aspects of the project.

“Pupils were involved in some activities including a safety presentation during school assembly and also a ‘digger day’ where all the pupils got the opportunity to sit in a digger and move the controls.”

Coun Berry said: “This is another example of the great refurbishment and building work which is happening in many of the district’s primary schools.”