Sheffield secondary schools expanding to cope with rising pupil numbers
Forge Valley School in Wood Lane, Malin Bridge will undergo expansion work costing £4.5m. Another £1.04m will pay for changes at Meadowhead School in Dyche Lane.
Two Sheffield secondary schools are being expanded to help cope with rising pupil numbers.
Forge Valley School in Wood Lane, Malin Bridge will undergo expansion work costing £4.5m. Another £1.04m will pay for changes at Meadowhead School in Dyche Lane.
The projects were approved on Monday, July 20 by Sheffield City Council’s finance and performance policy committee.
Councillors heard there is an increased demand for secondary school places. This includes for Year 7 pupils entering secondary education in 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29.
A report to the committee said: “To help address this shortfall, Forge Valley School is proposed to temporarily increase its intake by one additional form of entry (30 pupils) for each of
those three year groups.
“However, Forge Valley School has already taken pupils above its published admission number for several years, so the
capital works required are for a full five-year increase or 150 places.”
The extension will house a new school hall big enough to be used for exams and activities, an ICT examination and teaching room and three new science laboratories.
Inova Multi Academy Trust will deliver the improvements which are expected to be ready by September 2027.
Meadowhead School will also increase by 30 places a year for three years.
A mezzanine floor area will be converted into two science studios.
Facilities for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities will be upgraded.
The committee report said rising levels of school exclusions are placing unsustainable pressure on the Sheffield Inclusion Centre.
The school will be able to improve its own alternative provision by converting a caretaker’s house.