Children will get a place at a secondary school in Burton and South Derbyshire despite lots of large housing developments being built, council bosses have said.
It comes as Derbyshire County Council is looking at options to secure the future provision of secondary education in part of South Derbyshire as more housing developments are set to bring an influx of families to the area.
And with housing developments due to be built south of Derby, the possibility of opening a new school is under consideration, as is the possible expansion of the county's largest school – John Port, in Etwall, which is preparing to join a multi-academy trust.
The council's cabinet member for young people Councillor Alex Dale said: "We want families in South Derbyshire to know that we're planning ahead to make sure there will be enough places available at local schools when their children reach Year 7.
"With plans for new large housing developments on the outskirts of Derby well advanced, we know that many more school places will be needed and it is our duty to ensure they are available.
"We are already looking at the options. While there are potential new secondary school sites on Infinity Garden Village, near Stenson Fields, and also possibly at Thulston Fields, we’re also looking at the possible expansion of John Port School to accommodate up to an additional 500 pupils.
"There is funding available through agreements with housing developers to provide those additional school places, but building a new school or expanding an existing one will take time, so we're working with John Port to ensure that children living in the local catchment area are able to secure a place there when they move up from primary school."
The county council is also liaising with the regional schools commissioner following the recent Ofsted inspection report for John Port School, which placed the school in special measures.
Councillor Dale added: "We fully appreciate that the outcome of the report is clearly a concern to parents of children already attending John Port and those who are due to go there in the near future.
"It has also raised questions about its impact on expanding the school, as well as what effect expansion would have on children's education in what is an already very large school.
"However, the Spencer Academies Trust, which is the school’s chosen sponsor, has been quick to address the issues raised in the report and has appointed a new head teacher to lead the school from September.
Councillor Dale said: "We are also aware that there are other highly successful schools elsewhere in the country with 2,500 pupils or more which have proved that schools of that size are viable.
"The task of creating enough of secondary places at good quality schools in South Derbyshire is a priority for us and we are confident it will be achieved in good time and with no adverse impact on the quality of education."
County Councillor Philip White, Staffordshire County Council's cabinet member for learning and skills said: "Over the past three years, we have been looking at projected rises in pupil numbers over the next 15 years and formed a comprehensive county-wide plan to ensure there are enough primary and secondary school places available across the county.
"In Burton, planned housing developments and an increasing birth rate mean a considerable number of new secondary school places will be needed over the next 15 years. Construction is well underway on the new £30million high school in Tatenhill, which will accommodate 1,440 pupils and is due to open in September 2018. In addition to this, we are already working on a number of options for providing more pupil places when they are needed."
