Aylesford School is expanding to meet demand

From next September, youngsters aged between four and 19 will be able to take up places at the academy - provided planning permission is granted next month 
to build seven extra classrooms.

And there seems little doubt that this consent will be given as parents are already being invited to enrol their pre-school youngsters to be among the first class of 30.

Head teacher Steve Hall expects his current 750-pupil secondary school will expand to 1,000 by 2021, to fit in with the expansion to Warwick housing as anticipated in the Local Plan.

Mr Hall is still cautious about making full-scale announcements about the major changes - as a final nod on Government funding is also not expected until the middle of next month.

But on Tuesday he did confirm that places were being offered to “rising fives”, which would make Aylesford, in partnership with Warwickshire County Council which is paying for the extension, one of the first combined, fully comprehensive schools in the country.

County councillor Colin Hayfield (Con, Arley), who is responsible for education and learning in the county, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to deliver something innovative.

“It’s good to work with the school and answer a growing need for places in the area.”

County councillor Bob Hicks (Lab, Nuneaton Abbey), chairman of the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny committee, said: “We have looked at the needs of the area and recognise that it has a wealth of excellent primary schools. This scheme will further develop the offer available to parents taking children right through to the point where they leave school at the age of 19.”

Warwick town and Labour county councillor John Holland said he was pleased with the investment.

But he added: “I am concerned that while all the proposed new housing is on one side of the River Avon, all the primary schools are on the other side of the river and there is only one road bridge within the town boundary.”