New school planned for West Bromwich in pledge to create 3,000 classroom places
More than 1,500 secondary school places are to be created across Sandwell as education bosses attempt to ease extreme pressure on the borough's school system.
A new school is planned for West Bromwich, with three others due to be expanded.
A rapidly rising population, accelerated over recent years by increased migration and a baby boom, means an extra 3,500 places are needed by 2025.
The £39 million project would see a brand new school, expected to be an academy or free school, built at Kelvin Way, West Bromwich, creating 750 places.
An extra 275 places will be created at Shireland Academy in Smethwick, another 250 at George Salter Academy in West Bromwich and 220 at Wood Green Academy in Wednesbury.
That comes on top of existing proposals to expand the Q3 Academy in Langley, Oldbury, the Ormiston Academy in Tividale and the RSA Academy in Tipton, expected to free up another 1,500 places.
Education chiefs say new places are urgently needed and the expansions necessary to avoid a shortfall for the 2019/20 school year.
They have now turned their attention to secondary schools following an expansion drive at primary schools.
A Sandwell Council report said the borough had seen 'unprecedented' population growth over recent years, particularly in Smethwick, where school places are most in need. Schools are also struggling for places in West Bromwich and Oldbury, the report said.
It said: "To ensure a sufficient supply of places there is a need to continue to fund expansion of secondary schools to match projected demand.
"Without the expansion of the identified secondary schools there would be an immediate shortfall in supply of places to meet demand for places for the academic year 2019/20."
Sandwell Council's children’s services boss Councillor Simon Hackett said: “In recent years the focus has been on making sure there are enough places in primary schools.
"The priority is now on providing much needed places for our secondary schools.
"I would like to congratulate my team for working so hard to get the Government to approve the funding needed. It is important to provide these school places because it will give parents a wider choice of school places available in Sandwell."
