A GROWTH in the number of families in the south of York means the city will soon need a whole new primary school to meet the demand for places.

Council education staff know that in just two years the extra five-year-olds heading to Knavesmire and Scarcroft Primary schools will fill another class. Within a few years, the growing number of parents choosing to raise their families in and around Southbank will mean a whole new primary school is needed.

Last week, the area's ward councillor Julie Gunnell told the council's education chief Cllr Jenny Brooks that there were "huge concerns" over the fact the 2017 primary school placing plan had not been completed.

Speaking at a full meeting of the city council she asked when the 2017 primary school place planning would be finalised.

Since then, education officials at City of York Council have confirmed that 2017's intake will be 30 pupils higher than previous years, and said that as the higher numbers continue around 110 places will be required across Reception to Year 6 by 2018/19, and within seven years a full 210 places will be needed.

According to a council spokesman, a number of options are being considered but the plans are hampered by a dearth of land available to build a school in the area.

She said: "Each of the options currently being scoped will involve resolving complex planning issues."

In the meantime, one of the the schools could need two portable classrooms in the playground while a new primary school is built, she added.

Knavesmire head teacher Adam Cooper said his school had always been able to offer a place to every child in the catchment area, or with a sibling at Knavesmire, and governors were determined to maintain that standard.

Scarcroft Primary head, Anna Cornhill, said: "The Southbank cluster of schools made a number of proposals, of which two are being pursued. We are hopeful that those proposals will be considered soon."

Cllr Gunnell said all three Micklegate ward councillors wanted to push the issue forward, and were concerned that time is running out for plans to be made or building work done by 2017. She said: "I am hugely concerned that the primary school place planning has not been completed. As a local councillor, I will be working with the schools to make sure it gets done."

Scarcroft and Knavesmire are still considering leaving council control to become a Multi Academies Trust (MAT), with neighbouring secondary school Millthorpe.

At the moment solicitors are drawing up paperwork and negotiating with the Department for Education and City of York Council. Governors will make a final decision in December, before a potential conversion date of January 1, 2016.

However, the council has confirmed that the extra school places will be provided regardless of whether the schools become academies or remain local authority controlled.

The spokesman said: "Additional accommodation was provided at Archbishop Holgate’s CE Academy following the closure of Burnholme.

"The local authority has a statutory duty to ensure the sufficiency of school places based on the demographic patterns of demand and this is the main driver in our approach to school place planning."