THE biggest building project since a school was constructed in the early 1960s has been given the go-ahead by the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

New classrooms, offices and a reception area are planned for Upper Wharfedale School in Threshfield - one of the top non-selective schools in the country.

The project - expected to cost in the region of £318,000 - will involve removing two of six temporary classrooms, which have been part of the site's history for at least 20 years.

Members of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority's planning committee which met on Tuesday followed officer recommendations to approve the application.

The modern school complex lies at the junction of the B6160 and fronts Wharfeside Avenue, and has extensive playing fields surrounding it.

Headteacher Roger Kennedy told the Herald: "The majority of the finance is being provided by North Yorkshire education authority but the governors are making a small contribution.

"The main purpose is to provide extra accommodation so that we no longer have to teach in the school library and the youth wing."

At present, the school hasbeen forced to use the library for teaching English and French conversation and the youth wing for teaching English, maths and French due to the lack of space.

"The scheme is not to increase the number of pupils we can accommodate, which will stay at 280," he stressed.

A spokesman for the county architect's division said the project should take approximately 12 months to complete and would involve constructing a new reception area, a new office for the headteacher, deputy head and senior staff.

Two single storey extensions would provide two extra classrooms, a music room and storage areas.

A planning officer said the application was acceptable as the school was a modern building and any new build would be totally in keeping.

The meeting was told that the plans had not aroused any concern in the local community and was generally welcomed.

The officers' report added that the extension, which would provide the extra office space and waiting room, would require the removal of several small trees and a rockery.

But it was added that the trees were immature and of limited amenity value and there had already been an agreement to replant replacement trees elsewhere.

* Upper Wharfedale School is one of the leading secondary modern schools in the country.

In two out of the past three years, 60 per cent of the pupils have gained five or more GCSEs at grades A to C.There is no sixth form. It takes pupils from Upper Wharfedale and from Skipton and Embsay.

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