A HIGH school could be set to grow in size following an increased demand for places from new starters.

Lancashire County Council's cabinet is expected to agree to plans to increase the intake at St Augustine's Roman Catholic High School in Billington by 25 places in each year 7 group to meet a growing demand for places.

Due to an increase in housing in the Ribble Valley, there has been a rise in the number of parents applying to secondary school for their children.

For the 2023/24 intake, forecasts are showing an expected intake to Year 7 of 1,066 pupils, suggesting a potential shortfall of 38 places, with a further shortfall expected in all years until 2028.

On Thursday, April 7, the council’s cabinet will be asked to approve a permanent increase in the admission number from 215 to 240 places from the academic year 2023/24.

They will also be asked to approve the capital expenditure to provide additional accommodation and associated works at St Augustine's Roman Catholic High School.

The expansion would increase the school's overall capacity to 1,200 mainstream places.

Executive director of Education and Children's Services, Edwina Grant OBE, said: "The expansion of St Augustine's will help ensure we are able to offer a school place to every child of statutory school age living in Lancashire who requests one.

"In addition to this mainstream expansion, we will also soon begin a formal consultation to provide special educational needs places on the site.”

As a Voluntary Aided Catholic school, this proposal was subject to consultation and approval by the Trustee and Salford Diocese, with the committee approving the plans on March 8.