By Ciaran Duggan and Katie May Nelson

Plans have been submitted to expand teaching facilities in two Medway schools.

The Thomas Aveling School in Rochester wants to build a new teaching block to accommodate an increase in the number of pupils on its roll.

Although the school's capacity is 1,080, its current roll has 1,155 pupils. A further 30 are expected to be taken on in September.

The school wants to build an English block comprising eight classrooms and extend an existing changing room within the sports hall on its site in Arethusa Road.

This comes 12 years after planning permission was granted for the school's performing arts centre and new synthetic turf pitch.

The plans have been supported by Sport England which said "the proposals will not have a detrimental effect upon the school’s current sports facilities and playing pitches."

The school has also benefited from a statement of support from Medway Council, which is seeking funding from the Department of Education to provide additional classes, amounting to around £3m.

This would help create 248 extra Year 7 places at nine secondary schools, including Thomas Aveling.

If no action is taken, by the end of this year there could be an estimated shortfall of 217 places, which is around seven forms of entry.

This was expected to be met through the provision of two new Free Schools – Leigh Academy Rainham, for which plans were approved in January, and the Maritime Academy, which is earmarked for development in Strood.

These are anticipated to open from 2021 and 2020 respectively, rather than a planned 2020 opening for both.

Details have also been unveiled for a new teaching block at the Hundred of Hoo Academy.

Medway Council's planning committee approved outline plans for the two-storey block in October.

A single level building will be demolished and replaced with a new build of six classrooms on the school's site in Main Road, Hoo.

The plans were approved with conditions, including a start date on work within two years and measures to protect trees and wildlife.

The Leigh Academies Trust, which runs the school, has made another application regarding outstanding reserved matters which includes information about appearance, landscaping and layout.

The planning committee is due to make a decision by Thursday, May 21.

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