A VILLAGE school near York is looking to put up a two-metre high fence to boost security in a bid to thwart vandals and yobs.

Wheldrake With Thorganby CE Primary School has applied for permission to install the fence around its site off North Lane which it hopes will prevent youths sneaking on to school grounds at night.

As well as drinking on the site and leaving rubbish strewn around, the intruders have vandalised and daubed graffiti on school buildings, run on to the roof and intimidated cleaners by banging on windows.

If the plans are approved, the fence would be installed for the start of the 2011/12 academic year. The school also said the move would increase safety for pupils and staff and pave the way for it to use an open space at the back of the site as an outdoor classroom.

Head teacher Helen Rodbourn said: “It’s been a problem and it takes time for staff to clean up when they find things like bottles and cans left on the grounds, plus we have had some incidents of vandalism.

“We are not trying to cut down on access for children because this proposal would actually increase access, as well as allowing us to have an outdoor classroom.

“We’re looking at this as a positive step as well as a security step, and the fence would not be grey and unattractive as it would be painted green to give a consistent boundary around the school.”

An assessment by North Yorkshire Police, which has supported the plans, said the school had “suffered from incidents of crime and antisocial behaviour”, with the latest problem coming earlier this month when a classroom window was smashed.

Their analysis of crime in the area for 2010/11 showed three incidents of criminal damage, one theft and one assault had taken place, with six episodes of antisocial behaviour being reported.

“A secure boundary will help staff manage the school site by limiting trespass and by channelling visitors to the site through appropriate entrances,” said a statement from the force to City of York Council, which is expected to make a decision in August. It will also frustrate the intruder intent on breaking into the school out of hours.”