Council submits plans for new £23m school in Burngreave

Sheffield Council has submitted a planning application for Woodside School, a through-school for 1,200 children aged two to 18 years in Burngreave.

It will be one of two new schools built in the city next year, with a secondary and sixth form school planned for 1,200 pupils off off Carterknowle Road.

The school will incorporate the old Grade II listed Pye Bank School building and will be run by the Reach4 Academy Trust.

Coun Jackie Drayton, cabinet member for children, young people and families at Sheffield Council, said: “It’s great to see the first steps being taken to develop this site, which incorporates the old Grade II listed Pye Bank Board School building, into the new school for children aged from two to 18 years.

“I know that this new school will be a real asset to the area and the wider community, and that by working with the schools sponsor Reach4 Academy Trust we have a wonderful opportunity to make a real difference to the life chances of many children, young people and families in our city."

Sheffield Council is seeking comments from residents over the plans and will be arranging a series of events for people to have their say in the next couple of weeks.

Enabling works are due to start next month with the main construction works expected to begin in the summer.

Kier has been named as the preferred bidder to build the school.

John O’Callaghan, Kier Construction Northern managing director, said: “We’re extremely pleased to be awarded this opportunity to provide a vital new school for Sheffield.

“We deliver on average 25,000 school places every year across the north and are confident that, by working closely with the council to understand their requirements, we can build a facility the city will be proud of.”

The council is building the new schools to cope with increasing demand for places in the city. About 5,500 children need Year 7 places each school year, but this is projected to rise to more than 6,100 by 2021.

A report to councillors in November said births in Sheffield had risen 25 per cent between 2002 and 2012, with an extra 1,000 children per year coming into reception classes. An extra 5,000 primary school places have been created since 2006, with new schools built and existing ones expanded.