A REDDITCH middle school is set to be extended to cope with the increased demand for school provision in the borough.

Plans have been passed by Redditch Borough Council’s planning committee to extend Birchensale Middle School to take in more students as ‘substantial housing developments’ continue to be built in the area.

The extensions will allow the school to increase its capacity by 120 students.

Currently, the school has five classes of 30 pupils per year group, but this will increase to six classes of 30 per year group following the extension work.

A two-storey extension will be built to provide six new classrooms, along with an extension of the sports hall, extension of the school hall and extension of hard surfaced play areas as well as an increased parking provision of 15 plus spaces.

A document prepared for the planning committee states: “Worcestershire County Council and Worcestershire Children First, aware of changing demographics in the west of Redditch, including those resulting from the Persimmon Brockhill housing scheme, have identified a need for a substantial increase in the provision of school places in the area, at all ages, from September 2024.

“This increased need is expected to continue over the coming 25 years.”

The middle school on Bridley Moor Road forms part of the Bordesley Multi Academy Trust and is rated good by Ofsted.