LOCAL politicians in Winsford have welcomed a decision by a school to increase its capacity following a long-running campaign.

The Winsford Academy has confirmed it will admit an extra 30 pupils in addition to the 210 pupil admission number already agreed for year seven in September 2022 and in future years.

The school, which is run by the Fallibroome Trust, said it has worked extensively for several months with the council to ensure that more Winsford children can attend.

School places at the academy have been a contentious issue for some time, with the town council voting unanimously last year on a motion to urge the trust to provide more places. A petition was also launched by angry parents.

Labour claimed the trust had reduced its admission numbers because it was concerned about the layout and sustainability of its dining facilities, requesting £450,000 from Cheshire West and Chester Council to upgrade them.

But councillors said fiscal rules prevented the funding being approved, with the local authority instead reaching what it called a ‘compromise’ with the trust.

But a trust spokeswoman said it had actually increased and not reduced its planned admission number this year, and the trust had not requested any funding that would not be ‘an entirely appropriate use’ of the council’s basic need funds which she said are ring-fenced to deliver school places across academy schools as well as the maintained sector.

Gary Evans, principal of Winsford Academy, said, “I am very happy to be able to welcome more children into our school in September and in future years.

“As principal, I want Winsford Academy to be a school at the heart of the community and this is an important step forward for us.

“I would like to thank the local authority for their hard work over the last few months as well as the Fallibroome Trust for their continued support.

A spokeswoman for the trust said the council will send letters to the 240 parents and carers of year seven students who have been allocated a place for September 2022 this week.

The school’s capacity will also be amended to 1,200 to reflect the teaching spaces available in the building.

Cllr Nathan Pardoe, Labour’s mayor of Winsford, said local Labour politicians had campaigned for the academy to increase school places.

He said: “Winsford Academy is a fantastic school with dedicated staff.

"They’ve proved they can accommodate an intake of at least 240 with the 2021 intake, and this is the minimum Winsford families expect the trust to offer.”