Leeds City Council's Executive Board last week unanimously agreed the funding that will allow Fountain Primary School to move onto one site and away from the original Victorian building that costs so much to run.

Coun Judith Elliott, a governor at Fountain Primary School, said: "We are relieved that the finance has been found for this necessary work.

"Fountain Primary is an excellent school and the new building work will help the school to continue with the fabulous work it does."

Since Fountain Primary School was created three years ago from the merger of Cross Hall Infants and Cross Hall Junior school it has been operating on two sites but receiving the funding for just one school.

Last year the funding shortfall led to staff cuts and a Scrutiny Board inquiry into the way the merger was handled.
Now, following months of planning and discussions, head Tony Mallard said they are looking forward to a brighter future for staff and pupils.

He said: "Our Ofsted last year found we were a good school with outstanding features. Our aim is that Fountain Primary become an outstanding school but at the moment there are barriers to that because of the difficulties of operating on two sites."

"Coming on to one site means that the whole schools community will unite even further and from a financial point of view it will ease the burden on the school."

The first stage of the building will start in the summer and it is hoped the foundation unit, housing an enlarged nursery and two reception classrooms, will open in September 2008.

The present key stage two building will then be enlarged and redesigned with a new, more welcoming reception area, five more classrooms and the main hall will be doubled in size, meaning that for the first time they will have room for whole school assemblies.

Mr Mallard said: "There is a tremendous will and spirit to ensure that the children at Fountain Primary School get the best they possibly can.

"We have had tremendous support from councillors to move this project forward and we have had constant meetings with colleagues from Education Leeds who have also been very supportive."

Mr Mallard said that throughout the planning process they have involved staff, governors and kept parents informed of what was going on.

"The parents have already had sight of the plans and their comments have been very positive about the changes.

"As soon as we have firm dates about when work will start we will be holding a series of meetings for the parents to involve them and inform them about the way the school is going to be organised," he added.

But though he has high hopes for the future there is also sadness that they will be moving out of the Victorian building when work on the new school is complete.

Mr Mallard said: "It is a fantastic building and I certainly think all the children who have used the building have enjoyed it because it has got such character.

"I think they will be sad to move from it but having operated the two sites now for three years I know that from a management point of view it presents problems."

He added: "We will continue to use the old school until the building work is finished, then vacate it and then Education Leeds will inform Leeds City Council that they no longer want to use the building as a school and it will be up to Leeds City council to decide what they want to do with it."