Surplus secondary school places must be filled before the council embarks on expansion, says the education spokesman.

It comes as the Conservative party table a motion to full council this week demanding the council hurry up with plans to increase capacity at the boroughs eight secondary schools to cope with demand.

A report presented to the council's children and young person's scrutiny panel in September outlined plans to expand all eight of Merton's existing secondary schools creating an extra 750 more school places.

The report warned the system will be under "significant pressure" from 2015, and 270 new places will be needed by September 2018.

The Conservative party, which wants to built a new school on the former Manu Plastics site on Kingston Road, were set to demand plans be hurried up at full council meeting last night.

Their motion also calls for more engagement on the expansion plans with parents, and to establish a Merton Free Schools and Academies Commission to look at potential school sponsors.

Councillor Martin Whelton, cabinet member for education, conceded there is need for expansion, but a structured plan is in place.

He said: "We need to fill or spare places before we go expanding. Last year we had eight percent of secondary places unfilled. The Conservatives want to set up more talking shops, well we believe it is time for action, not just to talk about it."

"We are taking a three-pronged approach by first filling surplus spaces, then bringing in plans to expand existing secondary schools in full consultation with those schools.

"Capital funds of £40m have already been put aside by the council to provide further provision for secondary school places from 2018. The council has already spent £80m on expanding primary schools in Merton to provide a further 4,410 permanent places.

Last month, Councillor Suzanne Evans, leader of Merton's UKIP group, launched a campaign to bring a new grammar school to the borough, claiming the building of the new school will end what she sees as a "selection by house price".

 

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