Yeadon Westfield Infant School

School and local authority details

School

Yeadon Westfield Infant School, Westfield Grove, Yeadon, Leeds, LS19 7NQ

Local authority

Leeds City Council, Director of Children and Families, PO Box 837, Sufficiency and Participation Team, Children and Families, Leeds, LS1 9PZ

Description of alteration

The governing body of Yeadon Westfield Infant School is proposing to change the age range of the school from 3-7 years to 3-11 years with effect from 1 September 2026.

This proposed alteration is part of a joint proposal from the governing bodies of Yeadon Westfield Infant and Junior Schools (which are maintained Foundation schools) to amalgamate the two schools into Yeadon Westfield Primary School (3-11 years) from 1 September 2026. The Infant School would become a primary school whilst Yeadon Westfield Junior School would discontinue (close) with effect from 31 August 2026.

Evidence of demand

The birth rate in Leeds has declined from 2017 onwards. City-wide, births peaked at over 10,300 in 2012/13 following several years of sustained growth, however the latest births in 2024/25 were 8,498.

Yeadon Westfield Infant and Junior Schools sit within the Guiseley/Yeadon/Rawdon Primary Planning Area (PPA). Births across the PPA have fallen from a high of 402 in 2016/17 (Reception 2021 entry) to 258 in 2024/25 (Reception 2029 entry).

Both schools have lowered their Published Admission Numbers (PANs) in recent years. Yeadon Westfield Infant School lowered its PAN from 60 to 45 for Reception in 2024 and from 45 to 30 for Reception in 2026. Yeadon Westfield Junior School lowered its PAN from 60 to 45 for Year 3 in 2025 and from 45 to 30 for Year 3 in 2026.

Neither school is currently full and the falling birth rate in the area is impacting both schools, creating financial pressures and increased costs. Smaller schools can be disproportionately affected by budget pressures as they have a high proportion of fixed central and staffing costs. An amalgamated Yeadon Westfield Primary School would offer greater financial security for the school, providing stability for pupils, staff and the local community.

Objectives

The main objective of both Yeadon Westfield Infant and Junior Schools’ governing bodies is to ensure the long-term delivery of high-quality education on the Yeadon Westfield site. Both schools were rated ‘good’ during their most recent Ofsted inspections, and by forming a single primary school they would be able to provide a more consistent approach to teaching and learning. This offers greater continuity of learning and consistency in assessment of pupils’ progress and attainment, including vulnerable pupils and those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Bringing the schools together would support even better tracking of pupils, allowing staff to identify pupils who would benefit from interventions as early as possible.

Amalgamating the two schools would enable specific expertise and resources to be shared across the age ranges so that pupils working outside their own age range could benefit. There would also be longer-term relationships established across the school community. Staff would have greater opportunities to develop their expertise and experience across a wider age range, alongside sharing best practice and knowledge across the whole school.

With lower numbers of pupils in the area, both schools continue to face challenging budget positions which is putting the sustainability of both settings at risk. An amalgamated Yeadon Westfield Primary School would offer greater financial security for the school. There would be a restructured senior leadership team with a single head teacher. By September 2029, the proposed Yeadon Westfield Primary School would operate from one site resulting in a reduction in overall running costs.

Should the proposed amalgamation go ahead, all current pupils in Yeadon Westfield Infant and Junior Schools would have a place at Yeadon Westfield Primary School. There would be no need for the parents/carers of the Infant School pupils to apply for a place in the Junior School for the start of Year 3. Whilst the Infant School pupils transition to the Junior School successfully, research shows that reducing the number of school moves a child experiences helps them to perform better. There would also be more consistent practical arrangements such as school uniform, opening evenings, school events and school closure days.

Effect on other educational institutions within the area

With the decreasing birth rate and fewer children across the area, there are several schools in Guiseley/Yeadon/Rawdon PPA with existing surplus places. Changing the age range of Yeadon Westfield Infant School should not have a negative impact on other local schools as the proposal is part of the amalgamation of Yeadon Westfield Infant and Junior School and as such would not increase the number of Reception – Year 6 places available.

Project costs

Changing the age range of Yeadon Westfield Infant School would not initially require any capital investment. Both school buildings would be used for teaching for the first few years, before all children move into the Junior School building as a one form entry primary school by September 2029.

The Junior School site is preferred as it is a larger site with more play space and sports facilities. The nursery would become part of the primary school, with some alterations to the Junior School to be made to accommodate this.

Accommodating all children in the Junior School building would reduce overall running costs in the long term and would represent value for money.

Implementation plan

The proposal is to change the age range of Yeadon Westfield Infant School, a local authority maintained infant school, from 3-7 years to 3-11 years. Leeds City Council’s Executive Board will make a final decision on the proposal at its meeting in June 2026. If approved, the school’s age range would change to 3-11 years with effect from 1 September 2026.

Support, objections and comments

Within four weeks of the date of publication of this proposal, i.e. by 4pm on 17 May 2026 any person may submit comments, support or objections on the proposal to PO Box 837, Sufficiency and Participation Team, Children and Families, Leeds, LS1 9PZ or by email to educ.school.organisation@leeds.gov.uk.