Preston secondary school to expand as housebuilding creates need for extra pupil places

Ashton Community Science College will accept an extra 30 year 7 children for each of the next two academic years, starting this September.

The decision, taken by Lancashire County Council, will see the school get a new assembly hall and cold food serving area to help accommodate the increase in numbers.

The current hall at the Aldwych Drive site doubles up as a dining room, meaning that it is out of general use for much of the day. Cabinet papers reveal that the school is operating at below recommended space standards for halls and large spaces even based on its existing roll of students.

The building has been deemed to have sufficient classroom capacity for the extra pupils – although an additional food technology space has been included as part of the expansion plans.

Forecasts show that there would be a shortfall of 92 secondary school places in Preston by 2024 if no action is taken.

Although that figure is driven by housebuilding, development is occurring at a slower than expected rate. Coupled with the fact that other secondaries in the city have some spare places, it is not yet known whether the increase in numbers at Ashton will have to be permanent – the situation will be reviewed when more evidence is available.

The school was selected by education bosses for expansion because it expressed an interest in doing so and met criteria relating to performance and location. Under the plans, its overall register will peak at 865 students in 2023.

County Cllr Phillippa Williamson, cabinet member for schools, decided to increase pupil numbers in consultation with council leader Geoff Driver under urgent decision powers currently being used by the authority in the absence of cabinet meetings during the coronavirus outbreak.

“The county council is responsible for making sure that there are enough school places to meet the demand,” County Cllr Williamson said.

“We are constantly reviewing changing demographic factors to make sure the number and location of the school places we provide meet the needs to communities throughout Lancashire.

“We know that there is a definite short-term need for some additional secondary places in this part of the county.”

Ashton Community Science College undertook a consultation into plans to become an academy last year. In February, Preston City Council registered its opposition to the proposed move.