By John Baron
Detailed plans for a £4 million ‘post-16’ centre at Pudsey Grammar School have been granted planning permission.
The state-of-the-art new block will create 134 additional sixth form learning places in eight dedicated classrooms, along with breakout spaces, additional staff offices and a dedicated sixth form learning space with IT facilities.
Pudsey Grammar headteacher Mark McKelvie said: “Our school has been proud to educate the children of Pudsey and the surrounding area for the past 119 years. We are the second most heavily oversubscribed school in Leeds and are also the only school in the west of Leeds which has a large and growing sixth form.
“We are therefore delighted to announce that we have been granted full planning permission by Leeds City Council for our new Department for Education Government-backed £4 million Sixth Form building.
“Leeds has a shortfall of places for 16 to 18 year old students which will reach a peak in the next four years, so we are pleased that our bid has been chosen to expand our existing high quality education for all Sixth Form students in our area.”
Building work will start in the autumn and the new building will open for students in September 2025.
A council planning officer’s report approving the application concluded: “Overall, it is considered that the proposed scheme is of an acceptable quality in design terms and delivers new and essential teaching accommodation.
“Moreover, the scheme will provide additional and essential sixth form places to meet growing demand across the area and provide further and enhanced educational opportunities. These matters are of substantial weight which are in favour of the proposal.”
There had been nine objections to the plans, voicing concerns including noise and disturbance, increased vehicular movements, congestion and parking issues. There were two letters in support of the application.
The plans can be viewed in full here.
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