PLANS to expand a small secondary school in Poole, which will see its pupil capacity increase by 300 places, have been approved.

Carter Community School was chosen for expansion to address the borough’s need for additional Year 7 school places from 2019 to 2025.

The approved proposals to increase the Hamworthy school’s existing facilities will see its current capacity of 600 pupils rise to 900 by 2023.

The school, which converted to academy status in 2013 and is sponsored by United Learning Trust, is currently a four form of entry school for Years 7-11 but is set to expand by two forms of entry (60 places in each year group) from September 2019.

The expansion will see seven new classrooms built to form an English department, three rooms in the technology block, an extension to the drama department, three new science laboratories and a new science preparation space. There will also be a new learning resource centre, extended staff room and dining room, and additional car parking and cycle storage.

Brian Johnson, of AHR Architects, said once pupil numbers start to increase, the building’s current design will lead to “significant circulation problems”, which “could potentially lead to pupil bullying and disruption to teaching”.

Issues with the school’s current layout include departments being split across different locations, a “very small” library, and a single main corridor. The proposed new layout will see clearly defined departments established supported by new teaching spaces.

Borough of Poole case officer Eleanor Godesar said the plans will result in over 1,000 square metres of floor space.

In a report, she said the scheme would also involve a revised layout to both pedestrian and vehicle circulation within the site, which would improve safety.

The school has one of the lowest levels of car travel by pupils within the borough at 14 per cent. However, due to the increase in pupil numbers by 300, the school has agreed to fund £40,000 of safety improvements within the vicinity of the school. This could include the creation of a ‘school zone’ in Blandford Road with electronic signage, road markings and other features.

The school proposed to increase the number of cycle parking spaces from 45 to 105, although the council is demanding a minimum of 120 spaces due to the amount of children expected to cycle to the school when pupil numbers increase.