A head teacher has spoken of her ambition to involve the wider community in the life of a new school and community complex.

Sandra Firm has moved into Merlin Top Primary School in Braithwaite Avenue, Keighley, with 40 staff and 300 children.

They have transferred from the nearby Guard House school site into the new complex which also houses the Kingfisher community centre – replacing the Whinfield centre – and a special school, Phoenix, opening at Easter.

The development, costing £12 million, half of which came from the Government, is part of the second phase of Bradford Council’s Building Schools for the Future programme.

Miss Firm said: “We see this as a community space and want people in the wider community to become part of the school community.

“We hope it will increase people’s sense of community and give them chance to feel they belong.”

The two schools will work closely with the Kingfisher centre and the aim is to give the community access to the facilities which include a multi-activity games area and a floodlit junior football pitch.

There are plans for an adventure playground for youngsters aged eight to 13 at the side of the school and there will be access to the small swimming pool, especially for mums and toddlers, at Phoenix.

“The fact that people will be occupying this complex at all times means there will be less chance of vandalism,” said Miss Firm.

“That was one of our problems at the old school – not burglary but vandalism.”

Councillor Sandra Haigh (Lab, Keighley West), who sits on the Keighley area committee, said it was an exciting new chapter in the life of the community.

She had special praise for Kingfisher’s manager, Tracy Smith, of the Braithwaite and Guard House Association.

Coun Haigh said: “She stuck it out in that old building which was freezing cold, was falling down and targeted by burglars – but she persevered.”

The nail in the coffin of the Whinfield Centre came when it was hit by a car and damaged so badly it had to be demolished.

She said: “We now need to encourage the community to use it. We are also considering bringing people in from other areas to encourage integration.”

Some of the first groups to use the Kingfisher centre from today will be a toddler group and a ‘chill and chat’ session for older people.