A ‘POPULAR’ high school in Prestwich will be extended to meet a rising demand for places.

Bury Council’s cabinet approved plans for Parrenthorn High School to take in 42 pupils more than usual from September 2018.

The council believes the school, in Heywood Road, is the most appropriate in which to create additional capacity to ease demand in the south of Bury borough.

Prestwich councillor Alan Quinn, who is a governor at Parrenthorn, welcomed the news.

He said: “My four went there and it is a great school, but for the first time we have a situation where siblings cannot get into the school.

“Prestwich is getting more and more attractive, with houses selling within days, and there are more kids that want to get into a good school.

“The lid has been boiling for some time and it is great to have investment into this very popular school.”

The average secondary school in Bury has a capacity of approximately 1,000, compared with 840 currently at Parrenthorn.

The proposal is to increase the capacity at the school to 1,050 through an increase in its admission number from 168 to 210 in autumn next year.

During a consultation period, the council received four objections from senior leaders at a neighbouring secondary school and secondary academy.

They expressed concerns that an increase in capacity at Parrenthorn would be detrimental to pupil numbers at their respective establishments.

A council report states: “In Bury, demand for secondary school places has steadily increased in recent years.

“With demand forecast to continue, the numbers seeking a secondary school place are now close to available capacity.

“Demographic patterns mean this demand pressure is more acute in the south of the borough.

“Modelling of future demand suggests that the most appropriate school in which to create additional capacity is Parrenthorn High School.”

It is proposed that a new dedicated two-storey science block will be built next to the main school buildings, in order to relocate existing science laboratories, prep room and ICT rooms, thereby enabling a number of general teaching spaces to be created.

This new block will be accessed via new corridors from the existing main school corridors with additional external access.

The work will be funded using the Basic Need Grant which is specifically allocated for the development of new pupil places.