Primary schools to merge in money-saving drive

Two Leeds schools are set to be merged after falling pupil numbers saw them facing a combined £1.6m budget deficit.

Westfield Infant School and Westfield Junior School in Yeadon will become a single primary for three to 11-year-olds from September.

Labour's Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council's executive member for children and families, said no objections had been raised during a consultation on the merger.

A council report published ahead of Wednesday's vote said the newly created Yeadon Westfield Primary School "would offer greater financial security for the school, providing stability for pupils, staff and the local community".

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the meeting was told Westfield Infant School faced a financial deficit of £815,900 by the end of 2027/28.

Meanwhile, Westfield Junior School would have an estimated £850,500 deficit if the merger did not go ahead.

Hayden praised staff at the schools for their work drawing up merger plans.

She said: "It's not easy amalgamating schools. I would like to thank them for their vision, their cooperation and hard work."

The council report said births in the Guiseley, Yeadon and Rawdon area fell from from 402 in 2016-17 to 258 in 2024-25.

It added: "With lower numbers of pupils in the area, both schools continue to face challenging budget positions, which is putting the sustainability of both settings at risk."

The new school will be run by a single headteacher.

Both school buildings will be used for teaching until 2029, when pupils are all moved into the junior school site on New Road.

The report said: "The junior school site is preferred as it is a larger site with more play space and sports facilities."

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