£1.4m agreed for 75 new school places across two Wolverhampton primary schools

Just over £1.2m will be spent building two new classrooms at Northwood Park Primary School in Bushbury to make way for an extra 60 pupils.

A further £140,000 will be spent by the City of Wolverhampton Council to ‘remodel’ Dovecotes Primary School in Pendeford to provide 15 places.

There has been a “significant” increase in demand for in-year primary school places and it was “not abating” according to a report outlining the decision taken by the council’s cabinet member for children, young people and education Cllr Jacqui Coogan.

“This is due to a combination of factors including migration, regeneration and housing, and the popularity and Ofsted ratings of Wolverhampton schools,” the council report said.

The council said the move would help with the demand for places in the north of the city including Oxley, Bushbury, Low Hill and Fallings Park.

Historically each year group would grow by around 300 pupils – or ten classes – from the start to the end of primary school according to the council.

Figures in the report showed that pupils starting secondary school in Wolverhampton next year have seen their year groups grow by more than 330 pupils from starting primary school in 2018 – already exceeding the average.

The city’s year 5 cohort has already grown by nearly 360 pupils according to the same figures.

The current year 2 cohort has grown by nearly nine classes in three years and the city’s year 1 cohort has already increased by nearly six class sizes in two years.

“The impact of this level of growth has made it increasingly difficult to allocate a school that is a parental preference,” the council report continued.

“This can result in increased appeals, families having to travel a further distance and schools having to exceed admission limits without extra accommodation or resources.

“In addition to this there is a real risk regarding sufficiency and ensuring that there are enough good quality school places in the local area.”