MULTI-million pound development plans which could bring 14 new classrooms to a crowded York school would make a "major difference" to pupils.

Fulford School head teacher Stephen Smith said work on a £3 million expansion, could begin in July, if planning permission was granted.

The scheme, which has just been formally submitted to City of York Council's planning department, would rid the school of between eight and ten temporary classrooms, and includes an extension to the science block. Covered walkways leading to the Craft, Design and Technology block would also be built.

Mr Smith said: "The students that have been in mobiles will be in brand-new buildings and we are hoping to get rid of the worst of the mobiles.

"When it is complete it will make a major difference and enable us to do a number of different things, including having greater use of information communication technology."

Mr Smith said work would begin - if planning permission is granted - on July 21, as soon as the students broke up for the summer holidays, and would be finished by August 2004.

The work is expected to cause some disturbance to students as it would mean four mobile classrooms would have to be removed. Contingency plans would be in place.

Mr Smith said: "It is going to cause some problems and some disturbance. Classrooms and teachers' departments will have to be moved around for a while.

"What we are doing is planning well ahead so it will have little impact on the students."

News that the school had secured more than £3 million from the Government came in April 2002 after Schools Minister Stephen Timms visited the school.

In February 2002, Selby MP John Grogan, City of York Council's executive member for education Janet Looker and director of education Patrick Scott visited the Department for Education and Skills in London to press the case for the £3 million improvements.

Mr Smith said the school was still short of rooms and he was hoping a development would take place in the future to provide a new sports hall.

Assistant director of education, Kevin Hall, said no further progress had been made on plans for the sports hall.

Updated: 09:44 Thursday, January 09, 2003