CANON Slade School has revealed plans for a new two storey classroom block to meet increasing demand for places.

The school has lodged a planning application for the building, to be erected on a 467 sq metre plot near the front of the site, where its current tennis courts currently stand.

The extra space is needed at the Bradshaw Brow high school and sixth form as it one of eight helping education chiefs to provide an extra 200 places in the borough due to what has been described as a “desperate” spike in demand.

David Lever, deputy head at Canon Slade School, said: “It means there is extra space for the extra students that are coming through otherwise they would have to be squashed into classrooms — or potentially Bolton would have 30 children without a school place each year for the next five years.”

Mr Lever added that the blocks will be for “basic classroom” facilities, rather than any specialised provision, as that is provided elsewhere on the site.

It is hoped that the new building will be finished by September next year and while the construction will have to be carried out during term time, no disruption is expected to the running of the school.

The plans also include the creation of an additional 66 car parking spaces and an extension to the dining room area.

And the current tennis and netball courts being supplanted by the new block and car park will be relocated to the back of the school, where the majority of the sporting facilities are already provided.

Mr Lever added: “It’s a swap of use of some parts of the land.

"It makes more sense that the tennis courts and the games area are moved to the back where our current PE area is.”

Other schools which took in an extra 30 pupils from September included Sharples Academy and Thornleigh Salesian College, in Sharples, Essa Academy in Great Lever and Ladybridge High School.

Meanwhile pupil numbers have increased by 39 at St Joseph’s RC High School in Horwich and 40 at Westhoughton High School.

"The expansion programme is being funded by £21.5m the government has allowed Bolton Council to “draw down” from future funding.