Plan to rebuild 1960s school submitted

The 1960s buildings are to be replaced as part of the school rebuilding programme

Plans have been lodged to rebuild a 1960s school in need of modernisation.

The Department for Education (DfE) is seeking to demolish existing buildings at Wetherby High School and build a three-storey teaching block.

Playing fields and games areas would also be upgraded at the school, one of the oldest in Leeds, if plans can be agreed with the city council.

Plans to rebuild the school, expected to cost £25m, were first announced in 2021 after concerns were raised over the state of the building.

A design report said the existing school was in need of modernisation, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

It said: "The main entrance lacks a welcoming atmosphere and is not easily identifiable for visitors or early years pupils.

"Internally, teaching spaces suffer from poor ventilation and frequent overheating due to outdated and inadequate building services infrastructure."

A feasibility study and public consultation were carried out by the DfE, the report said.

Sport England was also consulted on plans for a new playing field and extension of a multi-use games area.

A replacement school building would be a three-storey, U-shaped block, built on school playing fields near the current site.

Pre-application talks were held with the council in 2024 ahead of the full planning application being lodged, and the proposed rebuild would be carried out by BAM Construction.

New parking facilities would include disabled spaces and electric vehicle charging points.

The report said: "The proposal would result in the creation of a more sustainable building for Wetherby High School whilst having no unacceptable impacts."

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