King Ecgbert School could expand as secondaries in south west Sheffield become oversubscribed

King Ecgbert could increase to 1,518 pupils as council bosses try to cope with increasing demand for secondary school places.

As part of the same proposals, Silverdale could also expand to 1,672 pupils.

Discussions are in the initial stages and there are no details about any extensions to the schools or new additional buildings on site.

Council officers now want to look at the cost, timescales and risks associated with increasing capacity and feasibility studies will be done.

What’s the plan for King Ecgbert?

MORE SCHOOLS: Silverdale could expand to 1,672 pupils as secondaries are oversubscribed

The plan is to expand the school by an additional 235 places Y7-11 to a total of 1,200.

Y7-11 would increase from 193 to 240 per year.

An additional 76 post-16 places would create an increase from 212 to 288.

The current hearing impaired unit would increase from 20 to 30 pupils.

It takes the total school capacity to 1,518 places overall.

Why were Silverdale and King Ecgbert chosen?

Officers say if these schools were permanently expanded, inner city catchment children would be more able to obtain a place, maintaining diversity.

Secondary school places across the city are tight until 2024 when a reduction in pupil population will start to create a citywide surplus.

But within the south west, the demand is set to continue until the end of the decade.

Silverdale and King Ecgbert have been in ongoing negotiations with Sheffield Council about expanding.

Why are south west secondary schools full?

Births in Sheffield rose by 25 per cent between 2002 and 2012 but demand for secondary school places is not evenly distributed across the city.

An additional 535 Y7-11 places are needed in the south west but schools there are at maximum capacity.

Schools will not be able to absorb the increasing demand over the next decade within existing accommodation and there are also health and safety concerns around building capacity, particularly with corridor space.

Education officers have been working with the Secondary Heads Partnership to look at both short and long term solutions.