Secondary school expansion plans to be considered by councillors

Three secondary schools in Wolverhampton are set to be expanded to help meet future demand for places.

The proposals would see a total of £3.2m invested to increase the capacity of Ormiston SWB Academy from 200 to 230 per year group, and Moseley Park from 186 to 200 per year group. These places would be available to Year 7 pupils from the 2025-26 academic year.

Meanwhile, due to high demand in the local area, Colton Hills Community School in Blakenhall is looking to increase its capacity from 161 to 180 per year group, though no physical expansion work to the school premises is required for this change.

Councillors are expected to agree to the proposals at a meeting of the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet tomorrow (Wednesday 10 July, 2024).

Councillor Jacqui Coogan, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: "The council has a statutory duty to ensure that sufficient good quality school places are available and, in order to meet local demand, we are proposing to create additional secondary school places in the south east of the city.

"It would mean we would invest a total of £3.2m in the creation of additional places at Ormiston SWB and Moseley Park which will contribute towards meeting demand in the area, both next year and in the future."

Latest figures show 92% of schools in Wolverhampton are now rated either Good or Outstanding, above the regional and national average. In addition, more than nine in 10 Wolverhampton pupils attend Good or Outstanding schools, the best in the West Midlands.