A RYEDALE secondary school has submitted plans for a two-storey extension to accommodate a rise in pupil numbers.

Ryedale School, in Gale Lane, Nawton, is applying for planning permission to build a 921 square metre two-storey extension to the main school block, which will contain an additional nine classrooms, as well as more parking spaces and creation of a new footpath.

They will also replace a 130 square metre prefabricated unit which houses two classrooms.

In a statement, the school said it forecasts “a rise to approximately 700 students by 2020 to 25”. It currently has just under 600 pupils.

It adds: “To accommodate the increase in student numbers it will be necessary to expand the existing facilities to provide additional classrooms.”

According to the statement, the new classrooms will be arranged as a block of eight rooms, plus one in a ground floor linking structure. They will be the main focus of Humanities teaching.

This will allow other internal alterations in the school to enable teaching departments to be “consolidated and grouped together by subject instead of being dispersed across the campus, thus assisting the staff and improving the organisation and efficiency of the school”.

York Press:

The statement adds that “the extension is carefully positioned to still allow existing games courts to the north while not impinging upon existing athletics and playing pitches to the south. “At present all of the grassed sports pitches and run-off areas are well away from the school buildings and the extension would not encroach onto or harm these areas,” the statement added.

Ryedale School is a mixed secondary school for 11 to 16-year-olds serving the primary schools of Ampleforth, Helmsley, Nawton, Kirkbymoorside, Gillamoor, Sinnington, Hovingham and Chop Gate.

It was rated Outstanding as part of its last Ofsted inspection in 2012.

Members of the public can view the plans at Ryedale House in Malton. The plans are also available online at northyorks.gov.uk