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Horsforth faith school faces uncertain future
Pupils at a high performing Horsforth faith school could be facing an uncertain start to the new term because of a planning row.
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The Brownberrie Education Trust's school run by the Plymouth Brethren, has had a high success rate with all of its pupils gaining at least five A*-C GCSE grades in 2006 and 2007.
The trust secured permission in 2000 to change a former motorcycle workshop on New Road Side, into tutorial rooms, but more space was needed, so pupils were taught in detached portable buildings in the school yard.
But Leeds City Council ordered the buildings to be removed last month as the school did not have permission.
The trust has now applied for planning permission for three detached prefabricated classrooms, but this has been met with objections.
Councillor Chris Townsley (Lib Dem, Horsforth) claims that the school, which has around 40 pupils aged between 11-18 on its roll, is in an unsuitable site.
He said: "The location is causing problems for people who are living nearby, especially when the children go anywhere because the road can practically be blocked off.
"It is just the wrong place for a school because the site was not meant to be a school. We have got the opportunity to say no to this now."
But a trustee from Brownberrie Educational Trust said he was confident it would be business as usual on September 10, when pupils are set to return for the new term.
He said: "The offending cabins have been removed. It was actually a big, multi-unit classroom. We're applying for permission for three small classrooms to tide us over until we move from the site, which is in view.
"We don't deny we have space constraints we're struggling with and that the current site is not big enough."
A spokesman for Leeds City Council confirmed it had received an application from the school for the new classrooms and added it was likely to be considered before the end of September.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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