Ambitious plans to bulldoze school and build a state-of-the-art facility

England Lane Academy in Knottingley is subject to a major planning application submitted to Wakefield Council which could see a state-of-the-art building replace the 1950s built school.

The project is being spearheaded by Delta Academies Trust, which runs the school and is based at the adjacent De Lacy Academy.

A statement attached to the planning application says the move is not an attempt to increase the school’s capacity, but to provide much-needed modern facilities. It reads: “These buildings are outdated for the school’s curriculum, are tired and are in a poor condition. The proposed development will result in the replacement of poor quality and unsuitable accommodation with more up-to-date facilities.

“The scheme provides an improvement to the local environment and will create visual interest, particularly when compared to existing school buildings. The scheme is of high quality.”

If approved, the new one-storey building would consist of classrooms for nursery age up to year six, plus a kitchen, dining hall and library among other facilities.

It would be built just yards from the original footprint of the England Lane school, towards where the current playground sits.

Access would continue to be from Spawd Lane.

The cash for the project has been secured through the Education and Skills Funding Agency.