TWO new primary schools in North Yorkshire have been approved in a Government announcement of 131 new schools across the country.

Sowerby near Thirsk and Catterick will both get new free schools - to cope with housing developments and the growth of the garrison.

North Yorkshire County Council’s director of children’s services Pete Dwyer said: “We are delighted that the bids have been successful. We fully supported these bids because there is a real need for additional primary school places in both of these areas.

“These proposals have been part of our planning for new places for some time. They will help to ensure that the infrastructure is in place to serve new housing development and provide access to great local educational provision.”

The new Keeble Gateway Academy will serve the Sowerby Gateway development near Thirsk, providing 210 primary school places. The new school will be run by the Elevate Multi-Academy Trust, which will also include both Meadowside and Aspin Park primary schools in Knaresborough

It will be built on land contributed by the county council with financial contributions from the housebuilders as well as funding from the Government’s free schools programme.

The Cambrai Community Primary School will be at Catterick and will provide 420 places to meet demand created by the expansion of Catterick Garrison bringing in more service families, as well as other housing development in the area.