A project to expand some of Wandsworth's most over-subscribed schools is underway, as part of a £15m investment to increase sought-after classroom places.
The funding, worth £15.6m, is paying for extra classrooms at some of the borough’s primary, secondary and special schools
Altogether it will facilitate an extra 1,000 places across Wandsworth – including an additional 825 places at secondary level and a further 150 sixth form places.
Last month, secondary school Ark Putney Academy, was able to add two new classes to its intake and expand its sixth form provision by a further 50 places.
Classroom at the Ark Putney Academy
Burntwood and Graveney schools, in Tooting, were also able to increase their intake due to the additional classroom spaces provided.
Next in line to be expanded are Chestnut Grove Academy, in Balham, and St Cecilia’s in Southfields.
Plans are being drawn up with an anticipated completion date in the late summer/autumn of 2021.
At St Cecilia’s, which specialises in music tuition, the plans are to increase its intake by one extra class - adding an extra 50 sixth form places.
While at Chestnut Grove, which specialises in art and design, the school will increase admissions by the equivalent of 1.5 classes, while the investment in new facilities will also enable the school to expand its sixth form provision by 50 places
Education spokesman Cllr Will Sweet said:
“This is a substantial programme of investment to provide additional classroom places at some of our best performing and most popular schools.
“It will also give parents wider options and greater choice when it comes to choosing a school for their children.
“And I particularly welcome the extra investment in our special needs provision which will directly benefit some of the borough’s most vulnerable children.”
Wandsworth has been recognised for having some of the top performing schools in London.
Currently, 93 per cent of all schools in the borough at both primary and secondary level are officially rated as either “good” or “outstanding” by education standards watchdog Ofsted.
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