A new school for the Huddersfield area has not been ruled out.

But a senior councillor says demand for places for this September has led to schools being extended to accommodate pupils.

Kirklees Council is working on extensions to various schools, including 210 more places at Reinwood and extensions to schools in Birkby, Ashbrow, Scissett and Dewsbury.

At Tuesday’s Overview and Scrutiny Panel for Children and Young People, Clr Cath Harris, Cabinet member for Children’s Services, was asked if a new school had been ruled out.

She said: “No, but another school is not a possibility for September and would be two-three years.

“There are certain areas in north and west Huddersfield and Dewsbury west where we need six extra reception classes for this coming September.

“The general view is that where possible it should be about extensions to increase capacity.

“We have the data which shows us where the children live and where we need places close to their homes.

“In extending schools we have the structure, the leadership and most of the facilities already in place.”

The council’s Capital Investment Plan 2013/14 – 2017/18 identified £1m towards the provision of a new school, but adding places to existing schools has been favoured in the short term.

Clr Phil Scott, Scrutiny Panel member, asked: “If we are six classrooms short for next year’s intake, and some schools have the ability to control their pupil admission number (PAN) and reduce numbers, how do we get round that?”

Clr Harris said the schools had the option, but it needed approval by the Department for Education and the local authority would be consulted.

“I’m not aware it will have any impact, there may be one school that’s consider it, as far as I am aware. Schools can’t arbitrarily change their PAN.”

Clr Burke asked if standards would be affected by increasing schools.

Clr Harris said they were working to make sure schools would not be “too big” adding: “We would expect standards to be affected if there was such a big upheaval or building projects going on and on, but not for what we’re doing.”

She said they could only take approved housing into account for the future school places, not land allocations.

Click here to take you back to more Huddersfield news.

Want to read, watch and hear more? You can download the FREE Examiner Apple App here, the FREE Examiner Android App here or you can view the paper as an e-edition on your Apple, Android or Kindle device by clicking here

To follow us on Twitter click here