Wolverhampton has been allocated nearly £10 million to help create hundreds of new school places in the city.

Wolverhampton City Council has been granted £9.7 million from the Government's £1.6 billion Basic Needs Allocation, with schools across the city being expanded to meet a rising demand for places.

Education chiefs predict a spike in the number of pupils starting primary education in Wolverhampton this year and next. They expect around 3,600 pupils to join the city's primary schools in the 2015 academic year and 3,500 pupils in 2016, falling back to approximately 3,300 in 2017.

As a result, an additional 465 permanent places are being created at Bilston CE Primary, Eastfield Primary, Manor Primary and Westacre Infant schools, while a total of 270 temporary places will be introduced across Bushbury Hill Primary, Loxdale Primary, St Martin's CE Primary, Stowlawn Primary and West Park Primary schools. A potential 10th scheme is subject to final confirmation.

Councillor Phil Page, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Schools, Skills and Learning, said: "The council has a statutory responsibility to ensure there are sufficient school places for our young people and this funding is welcomed.

"Levels of demand for primary school places have increased significantly over the last few years, and it is clear that extra places are required this year and next, so we are introducing hundreds of additional places some on a temporary and some on a permanent basis."

The spike in the number of pupils entering primary education over the next 2 years will in due course have a knock on effect at secondary school level and plans will be drawn up to ensure the city's secondary schools are able to accommodate the increased demand.

Wolverhampton will receive £9.7 million staggered over the next 3 years and Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said: "This new £1.6 billion investment for school places will ensure local councils can plan ahead and guarantee that there is a school place for every child that needs one in the years to come."

  • released: Monday 16 February, 2015