Governors of a school set to be extended and upgraded under the schools shake-up have had their call for the plans to be ditched in favour of entirely new premises rejected by Bradford Council.

Cullingworth First School will become a primary school under the schools' shake-up.

But governors fear the site may not be big enough to accommodate more pupils and building work to extend the existing building could put the youngsters in danger.

"Our building is 117 years old and we do not think it is suitable for future development," said chairman of governors, Michael Healy.

"It is in a fairly poor state of repair and although structurally sound, it is very expensive to run in terms of central heating, repairs and so on."

Speaking to Bradford Council's resources and buildings sub-committee yesterday, Mr Healy, said extending the school according to the plan submitted under the reorganisation was fraught with difficulties.

Taking the building so close to neighbouring houses would mean some classrooms would be lacking in natural light and may bring complaints of noise nuisance from the residents.

Mr Healy said the fact the school needed a great deal of work done was a concern to parents.

He said the governors had found a potential new site in the village on which to build an entirely new school, although he refused to name it.

He called on members of the committee to support the resolution made by the school's governing body and back an entirely new building for Cullingworth's new primary school.

However, a senior education officer said a new school would not be possible under the reorganisation plans already agreed by the Council.

He said detailed plans had already been prepared by experts and they showed the site and the school were perfectly adaptable.

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