Plans for an £8m expansion to Allerton High have been given the green light by council planners

A proposal to increase the capacity of Allerton High School in Alwoodley from 1,100 to 1,400 was agreed by the council’s Executive Board, and is expected to be in place by September 2022, with an extra 60 pupils being admitted into year 7.

Work to expand the school is expected to cost up to £8m, with new classrooms and facilities expected to form part of the plans.

The council says there has been an increase in the population of children in primary schools over the past few years, and the bulge of numbers will soon be at secondary school age.

Speaking at the meeting, the council’s head of education and deputy leader Coun Jonathan Pryor (Lab) said: “Allerton High is an outstanding school that is regularly oversubscribed, with an increase in the population of children in the surrounding primary schools.”

Conservatives group leader Coun Andrew Carter asked for a commitment that ward members would be properly consulted on any traffic problems caused by the development.

The council expands schools due to a law by Government in 2011, which stated local authorities were no longer allowed to open new schools.

A report, which went before members, stated: “Allerton High School is oversubscribed and has admitted more pupils than its Published Admission Number (PAN) for a number of years to help meet higher demand in the area.

“Its PAN permanently increased from 198 to 220 from September 2021 for admission into Year 7, and following secondary national offer day in March 2021, a further 30 places were agreed.

“This took the total number of available Year 7 places to 250 for September 2021 to help ensure that more local children could be offered a place than at national offer day.”

It also stated the school received an “outstanding” rating in its most recent inspection, and that the good quality of the school would help the council reach achievement targets for pupils.

The report added: ”Based on initial viability, the indicative cost for delivery of a scheme to support a permanent expansion at Allerton High School is expected to be within the range of £7.5m and £8m.

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