Oversubscribed Oldbury secondary school given green light to expand

Bristnall Hall Academy in Oldbury has won permission to build a new two-storey teaching block to offer an extra 150 pupil places.

Families and school bosses have been pushing for the expansion for more than a decade.

The 950-place school was previously earmarked for funding under the Government’s National Building Schools for the Future programme, which was abolished in 2010.

Since then parents have been calling for the school to increase its numbers.

Speaking before the committee meeting, Bristnall Hall’s headteacher, Mr Kully Uppal, said £5 million development will help transform children’s lives.

He said: “Bristnall Hall is over-subscribed each year and as the highest performing academy within the local authority, as well as being the only 5-star rated secondary school in the area, we want to have as many places available as possible for our prospective students.”

Architect Kim Neil told councillors on Sandwell planning committee the teaching wing would increase the school register from 950 to 1,100 to meet increasing demand for places.

Saying the block will include four new classrooms and space for student support he added: “It has been heavily oversubscribed for the last few years and it will also provide the school with additional SEND facilities as it has a high proportion of children with special educational meeds.

“It addition it includes a much need dining and kitchen facility, because the school doesn’t have any existing kitchen facilities as it stands and food has to bee delivered on a daily basis.”

The new acilities are part of Sandwell council’s £21m investment in extra classrooms for nearly 1,000 students in the borough.

Q3 Academy Langley and West Bromwich Collegiate Academy have also won funding to create an extra 840 pupil places.

The teaching block will open in September 2021.