A NEW primary school looks set to be launched on Hambleton district's largest housing estate to meet demand for additional places.

North Yorkshire County Council has agreed in principle to building an academy school on the 925-home Sowerby Gateway housing development, south-west of Thirsk.

Hambleton District Council has previously given outline planning permission to build a school on the estate.

During the first phase of the development, in which 107 homes are being built, demand for primary school places in the area is being met by Sowerby Community Primary School.

The council is working with the school to plan for additional capacity in the shorter term by improving the quality of its buildings.

It is thought a new school would be needed from September 2018, subject to the speed of occupation of new housing.

Since October, all newly-built schools must be academies - independent schools funded directly by the Government that don’t have to follow the national curriculum and can set their own term times.

The council, which has a statutory responibility to provide school places, is seeking to secure an academy sponsor to run the school and to develop a capital scheme to build it.

Councillor Arthur Barker, the authority’s executive member for schools said the decision to build a new school followed a consultation with schools and residents in the area, which found the majority of people favoured a new school over extending existing ones.

He said: "We have also spoken to both local primary and secondary schools about how the need for additional provision might be met and in the shorter term we will seek to consolidate and improve existing accommodation at Sowerby Community Primary School.

“We want all children in North Yorkshire to have access to good or outstanding schools and as numbers of children increase in areas where housing development is part of the local plan, the local authority will take all necessary steps to meet demand.”