Kirklees councillors have responded after new data reveals that North Kirklees could be facing a school places shortage crisis in the future.

The Local Government Association revealed that an additional 676 secondary school places in Batley, Birkenshaw, Birstall and Gomersal must be created by 2019-20 to avert the issue - a substantial increase of 33%.

Conservative Party leader and councillor for Birstall and Birkenshaw Robert Light said that the news proved increased provision was needed and that he hoped that the data would force the council to do more to increase places in the area.

The data comes after the association revealed that one third of local councils may not have enough school places to meet demand in five years time.

Commenting on the findings, Clr Light, who supported the creation of the BBG Academy in Birkenshaw, said: “This data is no surprise-myself and other campaigners have been saying we need more school places for some time.

“The council has failed to address the growth in population numbers.

“If we look at what’s happening more children from the area are travelling to South Leeds because there aren’t enough mixed sex school places available and they don’t want to go to single sex schools.

“The BBG will take on its fourth cohort this year but there are twice the number of applicants as there are spaces available”.

Ashbrow clr Harris said: “The number of school places is planned for when the need arises and this will take place before that date.

“We look at where the population changes are and we are obligated to provide sufficient places for Kirklees children and have found places for them.

“We wanted to increase provision to meet with the mixed views of parents in the area who want different types of schools and were making progress until the Building Schools for the Future fund was scrapped by the coalition government before any changes could be made.”

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