Head teachers are supporting the creation of almost 700 extra permanent places at primary schools across the district by September, 2011.

A report outlining possible new intake increases by Bradford Council’s Services to Children and Young People will be considered by the Council’s executive this month.

It follows the annual monitoring of school places and admissions which showed the number of primary school places this academic year was insufficient.

The problem is blamed on the district’s rapidly increasing population and late applications. Some were received from parents in August, seven months after the deadline.

Last-minute arrangements were struck between the Council and schools, increasing the likelihood that children would miss out on a place at their preferred or local school.

Finding places for new arrivals to the district is becoming more difficult, particularly where families arrive with several children of different ages.

Bulge classes were created at schools to cope with an unexpected 253 extra children in September.

The report says the number of reception places needs to be significantly higher. Changes will have to be made to existing school buildings.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families advises local authorities to keep spare capacity and Bradford Council is proposing a five per cent surplus.

In Shipley, primary schools have given their support to increasing their combined published admission number by 85 places; in Keighley by 45; Bradford East by 190; Bradford South by 180, and Bradford West by 200.

Rob Freeth, head teacher at Westminster CE Primary, in Undercliffe, Bradford, where the admission number may rise by 50 per cent to accommodate up to 90 children, said: “We’re very positive about it as this is an opportunity to not only provide education for more children but to develop and enhance the facilities and provision we have for children and people in the community.”

The intake at All Saints’ CE Primary, in Little Horton Green, would increase from 60 to 90 children.

Head teacher Sue Hart said: “We look at this proposal as a positive challenge. There’s a need for school places in the local community.

“Many schools don’t have the capacity to extend but we are happy to look at options of how we can best facilitate the expansion proposals.”

Councillor Michael Kelly, Bradford Council’s executive member for services to children and young people, said: “It’s well-known we’re seeing a significant increase in the number of reception age children coming to our primary schools and we have recognised for some considerable time the need to increase places.

“The co-operation of head teachers and governors from primary schools throughout the district that have been approached to expand has been most welcome.”

He said the proposed extension of Bradford Academy as a through-age academy, in addition to the same provision offered by Appleton Academy, would also help.

In the district’s secondary schools, meanwhile, the Council has identified a need for 37,113 places, based on pupil projections for 2018. The executive will be asked to approve staggered capacity increases at Belle Vue Boys’, Belle Vue Girls’, Carlton Bolling, Queensbury and Thornton. Their total net capacity would increase from 6,394 to 8,100.