Education chiefs are predicting a spike in the number of pupils starting primary education in Wolverhampton in both 2015 and 2016.
They estimate that around 3,600 pupils will join the city's primary schools in the 2015 academic year. Around 3,500 pupils are expected to start primary school in 2016, falling to approximately 3,300 in 2017.
As a result, hundreds of extra primary school places are urgently needed, and members of Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet this week approved plans to expand 9 schools, 5 on a temporary and 4 on a permanent basis.
An additional 465 permanent places will be created at Bilston CE Primary, Eastfield Primary, Manor Primary and Westacre Infant schools, while a total of 270 temporary places will be introduced across Bushbury Hill Primary, Loxdale Primary, St Martin's CE Primary, Stowlawn Primary and West Park Primary schools.
Councillor Phil Page, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Schools, Skills and Learning, said: "The council has a statutory responsibility to ensure there are sufficient school places for our young people.
"Levels of demand for primary school places have increased significantly over the last few years, and it is clear that additional places are required over the next 2 years.
"Our projections suggest the number of pupils starting primary school is expected to fall back to around this year's level from 2017, and so we have agreed to introduce a mix of permanent and temporary places.
"We will work closely with all the schools concerned in order to develop schemes that best meet the needs of both the schools and the local community. In addition, school crossing patrol provision and road safety will be reviewed as part of the expansion process.
"I'd like to reassure parents and teachers that we will ensure that disruption is minimised as work is carried out to create the additional places."
The spike in the number of pupils entering primary education over the next 2 years will in due course have a knock on effect at secondary school level and plans will be drawn up to ensure the city's secondary schools are able to accommodate the increased demand.
- released: Friday 14 November, 2014