Secondary school's expansion plans approved

Plans to increase pupil numbers at a Wolverhampton secondary school by nearly 400 places to meet growing demand have been approved.

Colton Hills Community School will provide an additional 79 Year 7 places from September 2027 and 395 permanent places in total by September 2031.

Expansion and refurbishment work at the school will include six new classrooms, three art studios, a special educational needs and disabilities resource base, pupil toilets and an extension to the school hall, with some already under way.

Headteacher Julie Hunter said: "The expansion and refurbishment will create a modern learning environment that reflects the high aspirations we have for every child."

A City of Wolverhampton Council cabinet report said: "Although the proposed increase in places is substantial, the school has supported the council over the past four years by temporarily admitting additional pupils to meet local demand.

"The current number of places currently offered at the school is 240 for Year 7, 224 for Years 8, 9 and 10, and 180 for Year 11."

Further work is under way to enable the school to take 240 pupils in September.

The council received 54 responses during public consultation with 70% supporting the increase in capacity.

But Ian Chamberlain, headteacher of nearby Smestow Academy, objected to the expansion saying he had "grave concerns" over admission numbers for his and other undersubscribed schools, affecting their viability.

The school was already in a "vulnerable situation", he said, and the increase at Colton Hills would jeopardise the "incredible journey" his academy has been on – turning around an inadequate Ofsted rating in 2022 and special measures.

"My view is this funding would be much better to subsidise an additional bus to Smestow to provide additional school places for pupils to central and southern areas of the city where there is a more significant demand for school places," he said.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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