MORE than �100million is being spent over the next five years to make sure Redbridge has enough primary and secondary school places to cope with a swell in demand.

Projections by Redbridge Council show 344 children will be without a primary school place in September 2013 if no more spaces are created.

The borough’s education chiefs have devised a phased introduction of extra forms of entry to accommodate hundreds more schoolchildren over the next five years.

To tackle the primary school place shortage, there will be by September:

• A free school in Newbury Park creating two new forms of entry – though it has not yet been given the final go-ahead.

• An expansion of Farnham Green Primary School, Royal Close, Seven Kings, by one form of entry.

• A primary school, with a reception class in September, on the site of Loxford School of Science and Technology, Loxford Lane, Ilford, pending agreement by full council.

• Half a form of entry at Fullwood Primary School, Burford Close, Barkingside.

A new primary is also due to be established on the site currently occupied by Ilford Jewish Primary School, Carlton Drive, Barkingside.

Expansion plans at the borough’s secondary schools include two new forms of entry at both Beal High School, Woodford Bridge Road, Redbridge and Mayfield School, Pedley Road, Goodmayes, by September 2013.

The projected shortfall in secondary school places is due to the “growing primary aged population”, according to the council.

A report on the third phase of the secondary expansion says: “Due to the restrictions on existing secondary school sites and the lack of new sites for development, early feasibility studies are necessary in order to establish where the required places can be accommodated.”

The Isaac Newton Academy, in Cricklefields, High Road, Ilford, is due to open in September 2012.

Redbridge Council is stumping up �5.2m of the �35m total cost of the new secondary.