Senior councillors backed plans for a new primary school for 630 children.
A consultation will now take place into the plan for a new-build on the Moor End Academy site at Crosland Moor for children aged four and upwards.
A new school is needed as the school age population has increased by 20% over the last decade.
The council has to find 2,100 places – ten extra school classes – across parts of Huddersfield and has already backed plans for a new primary school at Royds Hall to alleviate pressure in the HD3 area; plus created additional places at Birkby Infant and Junior Schools and Ashbrow School.
Plans to expand Reinwood were dropped.
Clr Shabir Pandor, Cabinet member for Children’s Services, said: “At the time of the Reinwood Cabinet paper there were plans to develop three new schools, this focuses on the Huddersfield South West and the proposals are to provide a new primary academy school at the Moor End site and amalgamate three others.
“Overall there will be a net gain of primary school places.
“A report will come back to Cabinet with a feasibility study and the consultation for us to make an informed decision.”
Clr Graham Turner, Cabinet member for Resources, added that they would explore the options to get the “best value for money”.
The new primary at Moor End Academy will be in a separate building and the high school will remain as it is.
Kirklees plans to admit its first reception children in September 2016 with 90 new places per year, possibly in temporary accommodation to start.
The consultation is due to start after Easter.
Other schooling decisions at a glance:
- Cabinet paved the way for a consultation on the merger of Thornton Lodge Nursery School, Dryclough Infant School and Crosland Moor Junior School to become Kirklees’ biggest primary school for 840 children aged two to 11. It will involve the technical ‘closure’ of the three schools, but use the same buildings with a new name.
- An extra 317 places in Kirklees primary schools from September 2015 to cope with immediate demand, as follows:
- Marsden Infant and Nursery School: additional 24 places. Minor remodelling and a modular building in the playground. The nearby disused public toilets could be demolished to create an extra play area.
- Marsden Junior School: additional 32 places. A disused classroom will be brought back into use.
- Heaton Avenue Primary School in Cleckheaton: additional 140 places. Two former classrooms brought back into use and new toilets needed.
- Headfield Junior School, Dewsbury: additional 16 places.
- Leeside Community Primary School, Heckmondwike: additional 105 places. Remodelling and refurbishment needed.
- Mount Pleasant Primary School in Lockwood will remain at its current level of 630 school places in a new-build school.
