AN oversubscribed secondary school is set to expand as it tries to make way for 150 extra pupils.

Shoebury High School, in Caulfield Road, Shoebury, has drawn up ambitious plans for a new-storey block. It will include ten classrooms, as well as a new dining hall and kitchen area.

The current school canteen is too small to accommodate everyone - meaning teachers have no choice but to allow older pupils to leave the site during their lunch break.

The new building, which will be next to the existing sports hall, will have a balcony. According to planning documents, an extra 26 parking spaces will be created.

Work is set to start in four months, with the new block ready by September 2018.

Headteacher Mark Schofield said: “An application has gone in because of an expansion in school numbers.

“Shoeburyness High is a very heavily over-subscribed school. We have a big waiting list and this is an opportunity to provide places for those in the community we serve.

“There is evidence that good facilities does help students with learning and we will have a new maths class and dining facilities. We’re hoping to start by the summer holidays and open the new building at the start of the academic year next year.”

The Echo revealed earlier this month Southend Council is set to build a new school in the borough to cope with an influx of more than 300 extra children by 2019. A location has not yet been found.

Ahead of the new build, the authority is increasing places at existing schools to cater for the five new classes of between 28 and 30 children needed by September 2018, and a further six by September 2019.

James Courtenay, councillor responsible for children and learning said: “Our expansion of primary schools is now working its way through to secondary schools and part of our plan is the expansion of those schools in the west and east of the town.

“The expansion of Shoebury High School will not only proved extra classrooms but change the design of the school and its facilities. We’re working with the school to improve and modernise it.”

Existing outbuildings will be demolished to make way for the new building.

It is expected to create an extra 60 spaces - but the school has a wider aim of taking on 150 additional pupils by 2022.

There are 1,697 students currently attending Shoebury High School - with Southend Council requesting this is increased to 1,847 within a five year period.

Education officers state the proposal is funded by Southend Council as part of the Department for Education’s Basic Need Grant Funding that is allocated to all local authorities where a shortfall of school places is identified.