EXPANSION plans at Parkside School in Cullingworth are in “full swing” according to head Andy Taylor.

He recently wrote to parents to say that final tweaks were being made before work was due to begin at Easter.

The school’s £2 million expansion at its Parkside Terrace site will see it take an extra 30 students a year.

Mr Taylor said: “Work will be planned so as to avoid as much disruption to the learning and progress of our students as is possible.

“The significant building and re-design will take place in the summer holidays.

“Along with planned investment in resources for the students, our return in September will usher in the ‘next era’ of our development.

“We will have a school fit for purpose both in structure/infrastructure and décor, and up-to-date technology to enable continued enhancement in learning, progress and social development.

“The school will in essence be ‘new’ on our return in September – truly exciting times.”

Mr Taylor, writing in the latest Parkside School newsletter, said the process of converting to an academy was “ongoing”.

He added: “The due diligence process will continue to make sure all parties are happy before final decisions are made.”

Parkside, the only secondary school in the Cullingworth area, unveiled its £2 million expansion proposals in June last year to create extra class in each year of the school.

Bradford Council’s ruling Executive approved the plans to create an additional Form of Entry (1FE), and identified the necessary funding to allow this to happen.

The plan was for the school to take 210 students each year instead of the current 180, increasing the total number from 1,024 to 1,174.

The increase in the published admission number (PAN) will take effect from September this year.

Approval was needed from the council’s Executive to allow Basic Needs Funds – provided to the council by the government – to be used to expand the capacity of the school.

Councillors heard that over the past few years there had been an increase in the overall pupil population within Bradford district, and this was likely to continue particularly across secondary school age ranges.

Forecasts showed that there would be an overall increase in the demand for secondary school places in the Cullingworth Planning Area partly due to a number of new housing developments.

The forecast revealed a possible shortfall of over 200 predicted from September 2019 based on current trends.