Sheffield City Council is planning to expand two secondary schools to help the city cope with a deficit of secondary school places in the 2027/28 and 2028/29 academic years.

Two Sheffield secondary schools are planning to expand in order to help the city cope with the need for more places for pupils.

Work being planned at Lift Firth Park academy on Fircroft Avenue will provide three rooms for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), refurbish two creative arts rooms, upgrade two science laboratories and increase covered outdoor dining facilities.

The project will allow the secondary school, run by Lift Schools Academy Trust, to increase the number of admission places from 240 to 270. The city has a deficit of secondary school places in the 2027/28 and 2028/29 academic years and the school expansion comprises part of a council plan to ensure that enough places are available.

A meeting of Sheffield City Council’s finance and performance policy committee next Monday (October 19 will be asked to approve passing on £602,000 of government funding to the academy trust in order for the work to be carried out.

The trust will supply the rest of the total cost of £701,312.

Temporary expansion at Parkwood Academy on Longley Ave West, Shirecliffe will increase the number of places by 30 this year and next. Originally the school was planning a permanent expansion but a report to the committee says this is no longer necessary.

The finance committee will be asked to approve a £135,900 increase to a total budget of £300,000, including design and planning work.

The scheme will provide an external, semi-enclosed canopy next to the dining room. This will help the school to cope with additional pressure during the lunch breaks.