MAJOR changes are afoot at a York school, which is the fourth oldest in the world.

St Peter’s School, Clifton, which dates back to 627AD, is switching from a three-school model to two, and plans changes to its buildings to help this happen.

Two planning applications have been submitted to City of York Council for the work, along with related listed building consents.

They concern modifying the internal layout of the first-floor classrooms within the Main School, which includes removing internal walls and doorways and inserting new walls and doorways.

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Similarly, internal works to the White Building are also sought at the ground and first floor. They involve removing internal wall partitions and doorways, and inserting other walls and doorway.

The application follows the school receiving planning approval for other major renovations earlier this year and it withdrawing plans for sports facilities following public opposition.

St Peter’s has told City of York Council it wants to introduce the changes for the start of the 2027/2028 Acdemic Year.

The school said: “The three school model separates the school into three age groups: St Peter’s 2-8, St Peter’s 8-13 and St Peter’s 13-18. This model is no longer working for the school and poses challenges relating to the key intake points at Year 7 and Year 12.”

Moving to a two school structure, it explains places Year 7 pupils into senior school two years earlier and will see the pupils moving from one classroom to another rather than using the same classroom all the time.

Year 7 pupils would enter the house system earlier, which would foster more bonding with other years. The house system would be strengthened through the provision of social spaces at 17 Clifton and the Main School.

Planning documents said: “This application is concerned with the area on first floor currently housing business, economics and politics classrooms and the proposed changes that are necessary to deliver the new day house system which is vital to ensure the continued excellence provision of Pastoral care at St Peter’s and to address the challenges that have arisen from the existing spaces at St Peter’s which are no longer appropriate for modern pupil well-being and development.”

They continued: “The proposals are deemed necessary to make the building suitable for modern school use, which also holds heritage benefits, as retaining the spaces in their original educational use would preserve historic interest.”

Some ‘minor’ 19th and 20th Century features would be affected but the original classroom in the ‘main range’ would be preserved.

Recommending approval, the application concluded that transitioning to a two- school model would offer “the best possible education and pastoral experience for pupils.”

“An important part of the pastoral offer at St Peter’s is the day house system which requires the provision of new social spaces. The public benefit arising from ensuring the continued operation of this valuable educational establishment and safeguarding its pupils is significant.”

The conclusion added national planning policies state “great weight should be given to the need to create, expand, or alter schools, and that Local Planning Authorities should adopt a proactive, positive, and collaborative approach to meeting this need.”