Planners give go-ahead for Greek school to move into new home

AN END-TERRACE property in Chapeltown in Leeds is to be transformed into a Greek school after plans were approved by council bosses.

The house – which used to be a business – in Avenue Crescent will be the new home of the Three Hierarchs Greek Orthodox Church’s Greek School. The school was set up, along with the church, 55 years ago and over the past few years has been forced to meet in portable huts in the church’s community hall’s car park.

Its new home is directly over the road from the church and community hall and chairman Barry Paschali said the children are “absolutely delighted” to be moving out of the cabins.

“We are very happy because we can now upgrade this house and improve it and make it safe for the children,” he said.

The plans were approved at the North East Plans Panel where councillors were told concerns had been raised about traffic and parking.

But the panel heard there would be no increase in either staff or pupils as a result of the relocation and the plans were passed with the condition to cap the number of pupils at 55. The school teaches the Greek language to pupils aged from five upwards, with student able to sit GCSEs and A-levels. It also teaches Greek culture, including dancing, singing and cookery.

Mr Paschali said: “It’s vitally important because for some families it’s the first time their children start to hear Greek. And not just the children make friends, the adults do too, which is very important for community cohesion. People have a reason to come into the community and they feel they belong and get support and help.”