A YORK head teacher has urged parish councillors to think again and back a massive expansion plan at her school.

Fulford Parish Council has objected to proposals for a new two storey classroom block and single storey sports hall and changing rooms at Fulford School.

It said in a letter to City of York Council that although it supported the school in its need to provide sports facilities and a further classroom block, there were significant concerns within the local community and it strongly objected to the current plans.

It said one of the 'so-called benefits' of the Germany Beck housing development near the school was the provision of a new access point that would remove traffic, including buses, from Fulfordgate, Heslington Lane and Main Street, thereby improving living conditions for residents.

"It is therefore completely unacceptable that these plans have reneged on the promise to provide essential access arrangements as a means of easing traffic congestion in Fulford," it said.

"The lack of dedicated provision for buses and parents dropping off and turning means that the access is not fit for its intended purpose as a future primary access for parents, and could never be made suitable for usage by school buses."

The parish also said the proposed sports hall would be up to 11 metres high and 35 metres long, and would be conspicuous in views from School Lane, public footpaths and the future Germany Beck development.

It said the application should not be determined until the full impact was comprehensively assessed and it was certain the Germany Beck development was proceeding.

But Fulford head teacher Lorna Savage has now written in a letter to parents that she hoped the parish council would withdraw its objections.

She said national league tables had placed Fulford as one of the leading state schools in the country and its A level and GCSE results were 'just a whisker away' from the results of the top two independent schools in the city.

"I very much hope that this recognition of the success of the school and its importance in the local community encourages Fulford Parish Council to withdraw its opposition to our building plans and to support our long overdue building development," she said.

"This build is all the more important in the light of the current record numbers in our catchment seeking to join our school in Year 7 in September."