Council chiefs in Trafford have agreed plans to expand a school in Altrincham.
Trafford councillors have approved the first step in a process that could see North Cestrian school expand into the former Loreto Preparatory School, which closed last summer.
In a decision this week, Executive Members agreed that the Council will bid to purchase the land on Dunham Road in Altrincham.
If the Council is successful in securing the site, this could see North Cestrian School increase its number of places by up to 60 per year group and 300 in total.
The move comes at a time when secondary school places in the south of the borough have been under pressure, with some children unable to secure a place at a school in their local area.
Cllr Karina Carter, Trafford’s Executive Member for children and young people said: “We are delighted to have reached this first milestone in our aim to acquire the former Loreto Prep School site for North Cestrian School.
“Our secondary schools in Trafford are some of the best in the country, and this means places are in high demand. The extra capacity that North Cestrian’s expansion would bring would be a real bonus for families in the Altrincham area.
“We explored the potential to enlarge North Cestrian in 2022, but concluded that the site was too small to enable meaningful expansion. The opportunity to add the former Loreto Prep site to North Cestrian’s estate would make all the difference, giving the school the space to add new classrooms and resolve larger space challenges such as for dining and sports facilities.
“The next step will be to formally submit a bid for the land, which will happen in the coming weeks.”
