SEVENTEEN new schools will be needed across the district by 2020 to cater for Bradford's fast-rising population, according to research.

The survey by Scape Group, which is a public-sector-owned built environment specialist, said it equates to a further 264 classrooms being required within the next four years.

It claims the school population boom and the rising number of primary and secondary school pupils is the reason the extra facilities are needed.

Scape said 11 extra primary schools are needed and six more 32-class secondary schools.

It claims 70 extra primary school classes are required in the district, and 185 more secondary school classes.

It says an extra 7,931 secondary and primary school places are required in the district.

Nationally, Scape said two new schools must be created every day to meet the shortfall.

In Yorkshire and the Humber, Scape predicted there would be an extra 65,512 pupils in the region by 2020 – a nine per cent increase on the existing number.

It also said 149 extra primary schools and 35 more secondary schools – totalling 184 – are needed across the region by 2020.

Mark Robinson, chief executive of Scape Group, said: “The country will soon start to feel the full weight of the impending boom in pupil numbers, and we’re already seeing unprecedented pressure on school places.

“A radical new wave of school-building must be a top priority for Government.”

He added: “As the growth of the primary school population gathers pace, the pressure on school places will soon transfer to the secondary population, requiring a new wave of advanced school building.

“The Government’s preference for free schools has created uncertainty for local authorities, who are tasked with planning and building new schools, but will not be responsible for running them. Proposals for new grammar schools have further muddied the waters.

“Leaving the EU could have a profound effect on the UK population – we could see a short term surge in migration from Europe or a drop off in numbers if migrants are put off coming.

“It is very difficult to predict what impact Brexit will ultimately have, putting even more pressure on local authorities who are planning how and where to prioritise school-building.

“In a post-Brexit economy, with all of the uncertainty this brings, the construction of new schools must be a top priority for government and local authorities must be given the tools and funding necessary to deliver extra places in time.

“Creative solutions including standardised design, classroom extensions and larger ‘super-schools’, as well as more effective use of land to deliver mixed-use developments, are all options we need to look at to deliver more new schools.”

Last month, the Department for Education gave permission for a further three free schools to open in Bradford.

No-one at Bradford Council was available to comment.